A UK hospital trust has issued a heartfelt apology after a series of medical blunders resulted in a stillbirth. Danielle Brown, 31, was seven months pregnant when her daughter Maisie died following multiple errors at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary in February 2023.
Brown first sought medical attention on February 12, 2023, after waking with swelling in her face, hands, and feet, and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication. A consultant obstetrician advised she remain hospitalized due to concerns about Maisie's heart rate. However, she was discharged two days later after a review by a different consultant.
The following day, Brown contacted the maternity unit experiencing severe stomach cramps, but a midwife dismissed her concerns as a likely stomach bug. When she returned to the hospital, she faced a 90-minute wait to see a doctor, who subsequently could not detect a heartbeat.
Brown and her partner, Anthony Miller, 34, were informed that Maisie had died. Despite her pre-eclampsia, Brown was reportedly sent home again. "Nobody explained what had happened to Maisie," Brown stated. "I was just given a booklet for bereaved parents and told to book a slot to give birth. Hearing that with no compassion angered me so much."
On February 17, Brown delivered Maisie following a ten-hour labor. "It was devastating that my first experience of holding a baby was holding my stillborn daughter," she recalled. "She was perfect."
Brown, who has since been diagnosed with PTSD and depression, engaged medical negligence lawyers to investigate. The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted a breach of duty, acknowledging that Maisie would likely have survived if Brown had not been sent home. She received an undisclosed settlement.
Although the couple have since welcomed their son Harrison, now two, Brown emphasized that the loss of Maisie remains a significant burden. "She will always be part of our family," she said.
Ian Joy, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals for the trust, stated: "We fully accept that aspects of the care we provided fell short of the standards the family had every right to expect and offer a heartfelt apology for this." He added that improvements have been made to urgent assessment and escalation procedures for maternity services following a review in 2023.
