A heartbroken mum had a stillborn baby girl after doctors repeatedly dismissed her fears and sent her home with just a leaflet.
Emily Hart, 26, was rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital when she was 39 weeks pregnant after she complained of stomach pains and not feeling her baby move.
Her partner Liam Ingram, 27, begged medics three times to induce her but the couple were sent home with a leaflet giving advice on early labour.
Four days later on July 25, 2021, Emily complained of stomach pains and the couple called the hospital who advised her to stay at home.
She was finally admitted to a ward 12 hours later, following a second phone call to the hospital.
Medics could not hear the baby’s heart rate and following scans the couple were told in the early hours of July 26 that their baby had died.
Emily was induced and delivered baby Luna 15 hours later.
The devastated couple, from Reading, Berkshire, instructed medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell to look into the tragedy.
An investigation revealed Emily should have been referred to an obstetrician to discuss being induced when she first came into the hospital.
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust admitted breaching its duty by failing to offer Emily an obstetric review.
Through NHS Resolution it admitted that had a review been offered, Luna would have been delivered earlier and would have survived.
Emily said: “Liam and I were so excited and spoke at length about what we’d do when Luna was born."
The couple had pre-bought all necessary supplies, saying they were "the most well-prepared parents".
Emily continued: “I was concerned that Luna wasn’t moving as much as she had so we thought the thing would be to go to hospital and get checked out.
“I was in quite a lot of pain, so we asked if it was possible for me to be induced.
“We were told no as it would be detrimental to Luna’s health, we were not told why. We were told everything would be fine and I was sent home.
“It felt like we were just dismissed as we were young parents."
Nothing had prepared the couple for the news that Luna had died upon returning to the hospital.
“We were absolutely devastated and having to give birth to Luna was traumatic," Emily said.
Emily went on to spend five days in the hospital, before leaving for home "heartbroken".
In April 2022 the couple found out they were expecting again. Emily gave birth to their son, Ruben, last November.
Irwin Mitchell has secured an undisclosed settlement for Emily and Liam from the Trust.
Lawyer Sophie Smethurst, who represented the couple, said: “What should’ve been such a joyous time for Emily and Liam ended in heartbreak with Luna’s death."
A spokesperson for the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We offer our very sincere apologies to Ms Hart and Mr Ingram for the very sad loss of their baby Luna.
"We have conducted a wide ranging investigation into the events leading up to this tragic event and reviewed our staff training and practices accordingly.
"We have also worked closely with Ms Hart and Mr Ingram’s legal representatives to assure them of our commitment to providing people with the best possible care.”
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