Hackney couple sue Homerton Hospital after death of their daughter
By ABattisby | Friday, January 22, 2010, 16:34
A Hackney couple are suing Homerton Hospital after their three day-old daughter died because of a lack of oxygen to the brain during a difficult birth.
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Homerton Hospital in Hackney
Anne Willicombe, 39, a university lecturer who lives with her husband in Hackney, was 12 days overdue when she was prescribed Misoprostol – a drug widely used in abortion clinics – to bring on contractions.
Mrs Willicombe and her husband Roberto Figus are now suing Homerton Hospital after the death of their baby Sofia Figus, the Daily Telegraph reported.
They are accusing the hospital of failing to monitor the baby in the womb and follow correct safety procedures which should have been put in place as a result of being given the drug. A midwife was sacked over the death.
The drug that was prescribed, Misoprostol, is only licensed in this country for the treatment of stomach ulcers and according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, it should not be used to induce labour unless as part of a clinical trial.
A spokesman for Homerton Hospital said: "In the case of baby Sofia, it was not the drug which led to complications for her mother, but rather the failure of a midwife to provide proper supervision during labour as instructed by a clinician. That midwife has subsequently been dismissed by the Trust."
Read the full story on the Sunday Telegraph website.
Comments
Hi, we too recently had a baby at Homerton in Sept 2010. I felt the entire staff were neglectful and incompetent and seemed to be on a 'care by numbers' routine without ever actually taking the time to assess people's situation. We did a great NCT ante natal class before the birth and it seems as if Homerton midwives are in the dark ages... We were left completely to ourselves during labour as well and only got help when I lost my temper and shouted at the midwife. Very stressful experience and I can completely understand how this could happen as well and totally made me lose my faith in the NHS ...
By walsh000 at 18:28 on 18/09/10
ReportI too had a terrible time in homerton hospital - I was given the same drug and then left alone without any monitoring whatsoever until I was well into pushing him out. No drugs, no help, no care and he had to be taken away to be resuscitated as he had breathing difficulties as well. The midwifes were rude, neglectful and incompetent. I feel terribly sorry for this poor couple, but can completely understand how it happened.
By lemont1 at 21:23 on 22/01/10
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