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City Hospital midwives questioned at baby death inquest
John Hayman and Ewa Godzisz and, inset, baby Anthony in hospital. Photo: Ben Davis/Peterborough ET
MIDWIVES from Peterborough City Hospital have been questioned at an inquest into the death of a 13-day-old baby.
Anthony Hayman died in March last year after being born with a condition called Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)–- caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain.
At an inquest into his death which opened yesterday, it was suggested that midwives at the hospital failed to notify a doctor after Anthony’s heart rate dipped during his mother’s labour.
However, staff at the hospital insisted there was nothing abnormal about this occurrence and said they followed medical guidelines.
Anthony’s parents John Hayman and Ewa Godzisz, of Wesleyan Road, Peterborough, have previously expressed how they felt “let down” by staff at the hospital.
The inquest, held at Norwich Coroner’s Court, heard that Anthony was born at the hospital on March 16 last year following a lengthy labour.
After he was born doctors diagnosed him with HIE and put him in incubator. Anthony was then transferred to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for specialist treatment but doctors were unable to improve his condition.
His mother Ms Godzisz had endured stomach pains during her pregnancy and visited the hospital on two occasions for treatment.
Phil Barnes, a solicitor representing the Hayman family, questioned why Ms Godzisz had been classed as a “low-risk” case by the hospital’s midwifery unit in light of her previous treatment.
Kelly Gallen, a midwife who oversaw part of Ms Godzisz’s labour, said: “When I took over treatment I was happy with the plan of care and felt that I had nothing to be concerned about. We had the patient’s medical records which told us she had been to hospital previously but was discharged on both occasions.” Mr Barnes asked Ms Gallen why she did not inform a doctor after Anthony’s heart rate dropped during the labour. Ms Gallen said: “His heart rate did go down but it was always within normal levels. It did drop below these levels once but then recovered again.”
Speaking before the inquest Ms Godzisz had criticised staff at the hospital. She said: “I feel let down by Peterborough City Hospital. I imagined it to be a magical moment when I would hold my baby in my arms but it turned into every mother’s nightmare.”
The inquest is expected to conclude today.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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