Mum trains to be midwife after baby's neglect death

Baby Theo Bradley who died the day after he was born

A mum who lost her newborn due to hospital neglect plans to train to be a midwife in the hope she can prevent a repeat of the tragedy.

Amelia Bradley's son Theo Bradley would probably have survived if he had been given better care by midwives, a coroner found.

He died a day after he was delivered by emergency Caesarean at King's Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

The trust has issued an "unreserved apology" to the family.

Theo's parents say his death has left them "scarred" and mistrustful of health professionals

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Bradley, 26, said her heartbreak and anger have inspired her to become a midwife.

"The fact it was avoidable just makes it a thousand times worse. If I can prevent this from happening to someone else, I am going to do that," added Ms Bradley.

"I am training to be a midwife from September, and Theo is my inspiration.

"New midwives that are training can be the change that the [maternity] service needs - we can make the difference."

A coroner recorded a narrative conclusion that found neglect contributed to Theo’s death.

The inquest heard there had been an "oversight" over who was responsible for Ms Bradley, who was left waiting for treatment.

Ms Bradley was a week past her due date when she went into labour with Theo - her first child - on 13 September last year.

Theo's parents were able to hold him for 30 minutes before he died

After going into hospital, she was initially sent home with painkillers - but the inquest heard she should have been monitored for a further hour.

Within a short time of returning home to Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Ms Bradley began to suffer pain, more contractions and bleeding.

The family rang the hospital, and a midwife told Ms Bradley to return to King's Mill.

When she arrived at around 01:00 GMT on 14 September, she was placed in a side room of the maternity triage area, where patients are initially assessed.

She was given basic checks by a health care assistant, and at 01:25 Ms Bradley's partner, Luke Sherwood went into the corridor and shouted for help, but no-one came, the inquest heard.

Theo's parents Amelia Bradley and Luke Sherwood attended the inquest in Nottingham

In a statement read to the court, Ms Bradley said they could hear staff talking, including one member discussing how many sweets they had eaten that evening.

Mr Sherwood, 26, was said to be panicking and shouted for help a second time.

Another midwife came into the triage area at 01:42 and asked why no-one had been to see Ms Bradley.

When subsequent checks found the baby's heartbeat was slow, Theo was born by emergency Caesarean at 02:02 and taken to Nottingham City Hospital.

The following day medics withdrew his treatment and his parents were able to hold him for 30 minutes before he died.

Unreserved apology

A post-mortem examination found Theo had suffered brain damage from a lack of oxygen.

Assistant coroner for Nottinghamshire, Dr Elizabeth Didcock, recorded a narrative conclusion which found neglect contributed to Theo’s death.

She said: "Had he been delivered earlier, he would on balance have survived. The delay made a more than minimal, negligible or trivial contribution to Theo's death."

Phil Bolton, chief nurse at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our unreserved apology to the family of baby Theo.

“Only the individuals involved that night truly know why Theo and his family did not receive the care they needed and deserved.

"I am clear we have failed to live up to the high standards of care our communities are right to expect from their local hospitals.

“We have gone through a thorough HR process following Theo’s death and appropriate actions have been taken.

“We will take the coroner’s findings on board and will continue working with Theo’s family to do all we can to prevent this from happening again.”