Parents lodge official complaint to find answers

WHEN North Staffordshire's £40million maternity hospital, above, opened last summer, officials proudly pointed to its two purpose-built bereavement rooms.

They would allow stillbirths to take place safely and well away from neighbouring wards.

But when Jane Auden arrived for her appointment neither of the rooms were available.

She and partner Adrian Turner were left in a counselling room. They say a health care worker told them they would have to wait – and there were more pressing cases involving live babies.

Ms Auden, whose daughter died after five months, walked out.

Mr Turner said: "We have so many questions and that is why we have made a formal complaint."

The couple say there were a number of failings. Months earlier Ms Auden was sent to Bentilee district centre for her seven-week scan instead of being given the choice of venue she believes she was entitled to.

When she developed stomach pains she was told gallstones were the problem. After the pains moved into her chest she attended A&E, but after waiting two-and-a-half hours to see a doctor she gave up and returned home.

Three weeks before the stillbirth, Ms Auden said she could not feel the baby's heartbeat, but was told by a community midwife there was no need to worry. Yet when her GP referred her to the maternity unit a consultant said the baby had been dead for four weeks.

Ms Auden, also mum to Emma, aged nine, and six-year-old Ryan, said: "The midwife and the consultant couldn't both have been right."

National charity SANDS offers parents support when babies die during pregnancy.

A spokesman said: "Ideally, maternity units should have bereavement rooms in use and staffed by trained midwives."

SANDS has a support helpline on 0207 4365881.