Mother rues a lack of answers after baby's death

Ashley Lamb's daughter Lexie was born prematurely in April 2021 and died just over three months later

A grieving mother who says she was left alone as she gave birth to her premature daughter who later died fears she will "never get answers".

Ashley Lamb made a negligence claim against Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS trust over the care she received, after her daughter Lexie died on 17 July 2021, at three months old.

The trust - which is at the centre of the largest maternity review in NHS history - settled Ms Lamb's claim, but with no admission of liability, she said she was still without answers.

NUH has apologised to Ms Lamb "for her experiences surrounding her complaint", and said it would take any learnings from her case forward.

Ms Lamb believes a procedure she underwent a week before she went into an early labour, and being left alone while she gave birth, was part of the "substandard" care she received.

Following Lexie's death, Ms Lamb, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, made an initial complaint to the trust, but then decided to make a negligence claim when she thought she was not being listened to.

"It definitely wasn't my goal to take legal action, I just wanted them to apologise," she said.

But throughout the claim, Ms Lamb said the trust disputed her version of events, leaving her feeling upset and frustrated.

Ms Lamb underwent a procedure at the Queen's Medical Centre - run by NUH - that a consultant said led to her early labour

In March 2021, Ms Lamb was referred to the Queen's Medical Centre for an amniocentesis - a test that involves taking a small sample of amniotic fluid from the uterus using a needle - to detect any if the baby has any genetic conditions.

The 27-year-old said she signed a consent form, which said there was a 1% risk of miscarriage with the procedure.

However, she said she was not made aware there was a risk of early labour or that the procedure could take several attempts.

"I truly don't feel that the risks were properly explained to me," Ms Lamb said. "That's not what informed consent looks like."

Ms Lamb said she was injected four times during the procedure, because a doctor was unable to get a suitable sample of amniotic fluid.

But she said the trust argued there were only two attempts of the procedure.

Ms Lamb said: "When you're not getting answers and you're told that what you're remembering is wrong, it is really, really frustrating.

"My other half was there as well, he watched the procedure happen - he said they definitely went in four times.

"I had four plasters covering the needle punctures."

'Terrifying'

In a letter to Ms Lamb following Lexie's death - seen by the BBC - an NUH consultant said they were "very sorry" that Ms Lamb went into labour early and Lexie was delivered "as a result" of the amniocentesis.

The letter added it was "not normal" to insert the needle four times during the amniocentesis - but it did not specify that this had occurred in her case.

A week after the procedure, Ms Lamb went into labour at 23 weeks - an ordeal she described as "terrifying".

"I was left in the room with a midwife and when I knew that I needed to push, I said that, so she stepped out to find someone and I delivered alone, waiting for somebody to come and help me.

"I kept shouting for somebody to come and help me and then a couple of minutes later [after the birth], it was like the entire hospital was suddenly in the room," she said.

Lexie was born at City Hospital in Nottingham

Lexie had various problems as a result of being born prematurely, and after undergoing multiple surgeries and having to be resuscitated several times, Ms Lamb said the "the decision was made to turn off the machines" keeping her alive at the Queen's Medical Centre.

"It is sad but you do kind of come to terms with it a little bit. You just have to keep going," Ms Lamb said.

Despite the claim being settled, Ms Lamb - who also has a seven-year-old daughter - said she did not believe the trust had taken any accountability.

She added: "I don't think lessons have been learned.

"It's been hard not getting all of the answers but I don't think we ever will, we just have to come to terms with the fact that we are never going to know."

Francesca Paul, partner at Fletcher Solicitors - which took on Ms Lamb's case - said: "To Ashley, this wasn't about money. It's about accountability and answers from [NUH] and sadly, she still reached the conclusion that she doesn't feel she's had either."

Ms Lamb is one of hundreds involved in the maternity review being led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden - the largest of its kind in the NHS - and said she hoped it would bring about "real change".

The review began three years ago after dozens of baby deaths and injuries, and now is exploring 2,500 cases.

Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Police is continuing a corporate manslaughter investigation over NUH's maternity care.

In response to Ms Lamb's case, Tracy Pilcher, NUH chief nurse, said: "I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Ashley and her family for the loss of their daughter.

"I would also like to apologise for her experiences surrounding her complaint and her not feeling listened to.

"We recognise the distress that this caused and for that we are very sorry.

"If she would like to meet with us again to address anything further, we are more than happy to meet with her and her family."

Ms Pilcher added: "We know there is much more for us to do, but we remain committed to improving our services so that we provide the high-quality maternity services that women and their families deserve."