‘Child dies due to mother not giving medicine for 60 hours’

A woman’s baby died because of a “lack of hospital capacity” that meant she could not be induced for 60 hours, lawyers say.

Irwin Mitchell said an induced delivery was planned for Chelsea Wootton when she reached the 41st week of her pregnancy, the inquest into Ava-Lee’s death heard, but she was told the risks of going beyond that stage. About “warning not given”.

The law firm said the investigation concluded that a delay in the care of Ms Wootton, of Birmingham, led to Ava-Lee’s death last year.

Sandwell and West Birmingham Trust, which runs It said Birmingham’s City Hospital had accepted responsibility for his death. In response, the Trust stated that it had “learned from this tragedy”.

The law firm said that on August 24, the day before she was admitted to hospital, Ms Wootton, 31, thought she might be going into labor and was quickly admitted.

But it also said that during her admission, “lack of hospital capacity” meant she could not be induced, Birmingham and Solihull Coroner’s Court heard.

She was sent home on 26 August, and asked to return the next day, but about two hours later her waters broke and she was readmitted to the City Hospital.

The next day, traces of meconium – a baby’s first stool – were found, which can be a sign of distress in a baby.

Ms. Wooten, a first-time mother, asked for a C-section, but he said it was declined because of other emergencies, Irwin Mitchell said.

Ava-Lee’s heart rate then deteriorated, and Ms. Wooten agreed to give birth with assistance, and her daughter was delivered with the help of forceps.

However, the law firm said Ava-Lee was starved of oxygen due to inhaling meconium and died on August 29 at just 35 hours old.

Ms Wootton said she was not told “about any risk of missing the deadline”.

She said: “I kept trying to raise concerns and asked for a caesarean, but I felt I was being ignored. It was only when concerns were raised about Ava-Lee’s heart rate that our care became a priority. Is.”

“We will always remember those precious few hours we spent with him, but I’m not sure we’ll ever get over what happened.”

Trust director of midwifery Helen Hurst said she apologized to the family when she met to share the investigation findings.

“This is unbearably sad and we are deeply distressed by the loss of Ava-Lee,” Ms Hurst said.

“We have all learned from this tragedy and have already put a plan in place to monitor the improvements we have made.”

He said the trust expressed its “deepest sympathies” to the family and friends.