Hospital bosses have said sorry after a grieving mother was handed a leaflet and told to book a slot to give birth after her unborn baby died following a string of medical errors.
Danielle Brown was seven months pregnant when she was wrongly discharged from hospital, despite having been diagnosed with a potentially deadly pregnancy complication.
Her baby died the following day, but the first-time mother was then palmed off with a leaflet suuggesting ‘no compassion’ nor explanation of what had happened.
Ms Brown, 31, attended Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington on February 12, 2023, after waking with swelling to her face, hands and feet.
She was transferred to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary due to concerns over her daughter Maisie’s heart rate and diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.
The first-time mother was even told by a consultant obstetrician she should stay in hospital until she had given birth.
However, she was discharged on February 14 after a review by a different consultant.
The next day, Ms Brown called the maternity unit in a panic after suffering severe stomach cramps – only to be told by a midwife it was probably a stomach bug.
Danielle Brown and her partner Anthony Miller were devastated to be told that their unborn baby had died after several visits to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary in 2023
Ms Brown woke with swelling on her face, hands and feet and suffered severe stomach cramps before doctors told her they couldn’t find a heartbeat. She then endured a ten-hour labour
When she decided to return to hospital, she faced an excruciating 90-minute wait to see a doctor, who then couldn’t find her baby’s heartbeat.
Ms Brown and her partner Anthony Miller, 34, were told Maisie had died. In yet another blow, the grieving mum was sent home again despite her pre-eclampsia.
She said: ‘When it was confirmed Maisie had died, we burst into tears.
‘Nobody explained what had happened to Maisie.
‘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.’
Ordinarily, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), when a stillbirth is combined with pre-eclampsia, the situation is treated as an active medical emergency and serves as an immediate trigger for urgent delivery.
As soon as the mother is medically stabilised, which is usually within a few hours, the induction process or delivery will begin right away.
On February 17, Ms Brown delivered Maisie following a ten-hour labour.
She said: ‘When I finally had a scan, the screen was turned away and there was no sound. I said to Ant, “I think she’s gone”. I went through ten hours of labour and pain.
‘When Maisie was born the room was silent.’
Ms Brown said it felt bittersweet to hold her daughter, adding: ‘She was perfect. I told her she was beautiful and I loved her. It was devastating that my first experience of holding a baby was holding my stillborn daughter.’
The couple have since welcomed their son, Harrison, who is now two. But Ms Brown says Maisie will always be part of their family
Ms Brown, who has been diagnosed with PTSD and depression, later instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell to investigate.
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted a breach of duty and accepted that Maisie would have lived had Ms Brown not been sent home.
She received an undisclosed settlement.
Although the couple have since welcomed their son Harrison, now two, Ms Brown said the loss of her first-born is something they will carry forever.
She said: ‘While we feel so blessed to have Harrison, it remains difficult knowing Maisie should be here with us too.
‘She will always be part of our family.’
Ian Joy, the executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals at the trust, said: ‘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.
‘Following a detailed review in 2023, we improved urgent assessment for women who come to our maternity services with unexpected symptoms or suspected complications and introduced quicker escalation procedures when there are concerns.’
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), when a stillbirth is combined with pre-eclampsia, the situation is treated as an active medical emergency and serves as an immediate trigger for urgent delivery.
As soon as the mother is medically stabilised, which is usually within a few hours, the induction process or delivery will begin right away, according to NICE guidelines.
