Did You Clap For This Rotten To The Core Oganisation During Covid?

If so, more fool you!

A seven-month pregnant woman whose unborn baby died after she was discharged from hospital while suffering from a life-threatening condition was told by staff to make an appointment to give birth.

Astonisinghly, this article is headed:

Yeah, no kidding. What a pity the concern for sensibilities shown by the BBC News editors wasn’t matched by the NHS staff, eh?

After she was discharged from hospital suffering with pre-eclampsia, Danielle insisted on returning to the maternity unit as she felt so unwell and was seen by doctors. She was told her daughter had died but, instead of delivering the baby, the hospital sent her home and told her to ring to book a slot to give birth. Her partner Anthony Miller, 34, described it as "horrible... lying in bed and holding that belly" knowing their baby was not alive. The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust said it fully accepted "aspects of the care we provided fell short" and offered a "heartfelt apology".

And no, Reader, that doesn’t make it all right, as it was only a small aspect of the catastrophic fuck-up the staff made in this case. 

The couple went to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, Northumberland, but medics found problems with Maisie's heart rate and told Danielle her baby needed to be delivered immediately via emergency caesarean section, external. "Maisie's heart rate had dropped and a midwife ran in and said 'don't panic, but I need to pull the emergency cord - you're having your baby'," Danielle said. The midwife told her space was being found for her at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle and doctors there "were going to do the section", she said. She was transferred by ambulance but, once in Newcastle, Danielle did not have the operation and was instead put on a ward. "A consultant came to see me and he said I am staying in hospital until Maisie was born," she said. But, the following day, another doctor reviewed her and sent her home.

Basic communication skills lacking, then? 

Within 24 hours, again feeling unwell, Danielle called the maternity unit and said she was told she probably had a stomach bug. But she insisted on being seen. "When I finally had a scan, the screen was turned away and there was no sound," Danielle said. She remembers turning to her partner and saying: "I think she's gone." Doctors were unable to find Maisie's heartbeat and they told Danielle her baby had died. But instead of delivering the baby, as she expected, Danielle was given a phone number, and sent home. She said they told her to "give us a call on Friday morning, and book a slot to come in and have Maisie".

Speaking publicly for the first time about what happened, Danielle said no-one should be sent home still carrying a baby who has died.

A sentence you would be forgiven for thinking no-one should have to write in a first world country in 2026! 

H/T: IanJ via email