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Original poster

Should she complain/take it further ????

21 replies

nutcracker · 22/03/2004 13:15

My mom is a HCA on a maternity ward at the local hospital. About 9/10 days ago she there was an incident on the ward ...........

My mom went into a ward to answer a buzzer and on her way out she glanced at this baby that seemed to be very jittery. She went over to have a closer look and the baby was very very jittery and looked generally unwell/in pain. My mom immeidiatly told the midwife in charge who didn't look at the baby but said she would get the peadiatrician to look at it when he next came up.
My mom later looked at the baby again and it was still very jittery and seemed to be wincing in pain. My mom fetched the midwife and as the paed was then on the ward he came too. He said that the baby seemed fine to him, and it was just a bit jumpy. He told the midwife to do it's obs, and the babies temp was nearly 39 degrees.
They immeidiatly sent the baby down to scbu where on arrival it was vilontly sick (containing mostly meconium) and some of the vomit was aspirrated (sp ??) onto the babies lungs. The baby was placed on a ventilator and died yesterday.
My mom is extremely upset and angry about this. She has since found out that a student midwife had also raised concerns about the baby, but obs taken at that time appeared to be normal. My mom is convinced that had she been taken seriously the first time, the baby would still be alive now. One of the midwives has since said that there must of been something else wrong with the baby anyway as the aspiration of the vomit on to it's lungs wouldn't of killed it.
I have suggested that she should complain, but she feels like they will all close ranks and make light of it.

OP posts:

forestfly · 22/03/2004 13:19

Nutcracker thats a terrible story, just made me jump. I would do something about it she will have to be brave but the parents deserve it. Sorry for her, it is a sad story.

forestfly · 22/03/2004 13:19

Good Luck

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/03/2004 13:25

Thankyou FF.
I really think something needs to be done. At the moment they have a doctor on the ward who's qualifications are being investigated, in other words, they are not sure if he has any. Apparently the other day one of the midwives asked him if she should give this lady some gel to start her off, and he didn't know what she was on about. He also keeps saying that he doesn't know how to do things.

OP posts:

forestfly · 22/03/2004 13:28

Your mums going to have to make a formal complaint. From a selfish point of view how would she cope if it happened again. It could ruin her life. There must be a system set up for her to use. Poor thing

shrub · 22/03/2004 13:31

your poor mum nutcracker. this is so upsetting to read. we could be one of those parents. what have they told them? i really feel for both of you and the baby's parents. i understand your mum's predicament. if i was brave enough i would say something. it makes me so angry that nobody takes responsibility anymore and 'closes ranks' as you describe. how can they sleep at night with that knowledge. they must be in deep deep denial. there has to be accountability otherwise what happens when the next baby looks unwell? your mum did her best in the circumstances, it makes me so sad that nobody listened. to help her deal with the 'next time' scenerio, could she go to assertiveness training to deal with these type of people in authority? can she call a meeting with anyone that may be impartial at this stage. this can't happen again. hugsxxxxx

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/03/2004 13:32

Well she needs to find out who to complain too. The attitude on the ward seems to be that it was nobodys fault, which it wasn't but then they didn't do there best by that baby IMHO as they didn't keep proper checks on it.
My moms not sure if she will be listened to because she is 'just' an HCA. Plus she doesn't want to upset the parents further by instigating an investigation which they may not want.

OP posts:

kiwisbird · 22/03/2004 13:33

Absolutely mak a complaint, I am fairly sure that the GMC and the Health Auth at large take keen interest in scuh cases, the death of a baby is certianly not run of the mill (if there is ever such a thing) and surly eyebrows would be raised, and concerns too.
That is a really desperately sad story
I hope they get some answers
xx J

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/03/2004 13:34

What i meant was that it was no ones fault the baby was ill, but that it is their fault that the baby didn't get treatment in time.

OP posts:

forestfly · 22/03/2004 13:36

They have to listen to her if she makes a complaint, they don't have a choice. She has done nothing apart from make people aware. They'd be the first to blame her on her ward if she ignored things like that.They'd be sticking in the boot then.

suedonim · 22/03/2004 15:22

What a sad, sad event, Nutcracker. I think if your mum can find a way of complaining she should. Does she have a union who could help her with it?

Istr that ?Mears once said that breathing in meconium is very serious for a baby as it interferes with the respiration. Maybe the birth process needs to be looked at as well in case soemthign was overlooked. Poor little baby and poor grieving parents.

emmatmg · 22/03/2004 16:01

Oh, what a terrible thing to happen. I agree that your Mum will have to be listened too and personally if I were in that situation ( and I pray I never am) if the immediate people did 'close ranks' than I would go over their heads even if it meant losing my job.

Your mum would no doubt be questioned if someone else had seen the baby first and she was aware it was poorly too.

The parent may not want an investigation (although I find that unlikey) but surely as part of normal procedures the hospital would do one for them selves anyway. It's a disgrace if they don't do one.

Good luck to you Mum and huge sympathies to the family.

CountessDracula · 22/03/2004 16:13

Exactly what I was going to say Emmatmg - I'm sure there will be an internal investigation into the death, your mum must say her piece then. Awful

luckymum · 22/03/2004 16:37

Nutty....I think your mum should get something down on paper even if she doesn't make any complaint. Surely there will be some sort of internal investigation or maybe an inquest?
If the parents make a complaint sometime in the future she will have it all there to hand and anyway that could be months away so it would save her from trying to remember. She's probably quite traumatised by it and it may help to get it all written down.

Hugs for your mum and for those poor parents

Jimjams · 22/03/2004 16:42

awful. and yes she should complain. awful awful awful

tigermoth · 22/03/2004 19:42

agree, your mum must talk to someone. And especailly if there's a suspect doctor on the ward. What a worrying environment for everyone to work in, to say nothing of the possible risks to babies and parents.

Could your mum speak to a patient liason officer or the hospital chaplin? I assume the PALS person really deals with patients, but your mum was not part of 'the establishment' in this case, and, as they must be used to dealing with complaints, they might be able to advise her.

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/03/2004 20:44

Thanks for all the advise. I told her to write down exactly what happened as soon as she told me.
I think she is going to try and speak to the ward manger, or somebody similar. Trouble is she seems to be getting the impression (from everyone) that she should back the staff up and not stir it IYKWIM.
I am hoping that the parents will take it further and that there will at least be an investigation. I would want one if it were me. If that happens then she will be able to give her side then.
TBH I am glad that i was considered to high risk to have my last child there. Some of the things i hear about what goes on is awful.

OP posts:

tiredemma · 22/03/2004 20:52

nutty, is it the one in sutton?? ( i dont want to mention the name, that wouldnt be a good idea!!)
if it is then i have to say that i had both of my boys there and i had really complicated pregnancies (bleeding etc) and the care i recieved both pre-natal and post - natal was excellent.....however i have heard horror stories an when i say how good the care i recieved was, i get a few raised eyebrows as if its unusual for that hospital.
one of my mates had a little boy born 3 years ago, they failed to see from scans that he was a 10lb+ baby and when she went into labour he got stuck in the birth canal, was starved of oxygen for ages and had to have his arm broken to get out, his apgar score was 1 and now he has learning difficulties.
i really must stress though that i found all of the staff excellent and didnt want to leave the hospital ( i stayed in for about a week with both babies!)

ks · 22/03/2004 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Paula71 · 22/03/2004 23:24

Your mum did well in becoming involved in the first place. It is horrifying that a midwife would be so dismissive - imagine if it were your baby!

So yes, complain loudly! They may try and close ranks but in such a situation they are not the main priority - what happened to this baby is. God, what an awful situation!!!!!

mez75 · 23/03/2004 07:16

Oh Nutty that's awful, I think she should complain as well I've have heard bad stories about the hospital also (although you get horror stories at every hospital.

handlemecarefully · 23/03/2004 08:32

Your mum should complain otherwise this will remain unresolved for her and will continue to haunt her. The Trust she works in should have a 'clinical incident reporting procedure' - this is more or less a requirement in the NHS, and the protocol is that any member of staff can report a suspected clinical incident so that it is properly investigated.

What a dreadful, dreadful story (and something else for me to worry about in 4 weeks time in the delivery room!)

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