Baby dies after mum given 'incorrect advice' by hospital worker

14.03.2022 - 17:59 / dailyrecord.co.uk

A six-month-old baby tragically died after a mum was given incorrect guidance by a staff member at hospital.

The mother called the maternity assessment unit at Royal Stoke University Hospital, seeking medical advice relating to her child.

But it was a maternity ward clerk that spoke to the parent, instead of a registered midwife, which led to the wrong information being given, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust – which runs the medical centre - have since hired the equivalent of 3.64 whole-time midwives to ensure one is always on hand to provide telephone triage.

The incident occurred last June and was reported to this month’s trust board meeting.

Director of midwifery Sarah Jamieson has described the neonatal death as a 'very sad case'.

She added: "The lady made a telephone call to maternity, and the phone call was taken by a ward clerk and not a registered midwife, and unfortunately some incorrect advice was given to the mother.

"This case underwent a perinatal mortality review, as all neonatal deaths do, and there were some immediate actions that we pulled out from that.

"Clearly we've adhered to our duty of candour with this case, and that was completed.

"Maternity services have now recruited 3.64 whole-time equivalent midwives, and that's to assist and to provide a 24/7 telephone triage service, so that midwives are taking those calls and giving advice as required.

"The maternity assessment unit is an incredibly busy unit, we see 60, 70, 80 women. It is our emergency department for maternity services. So it's incredibly important that we cover that service with a registered midwife at the end of the telephone line."

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