A distraught young mother was forced to give birth to her premature baby in a toilet at one of Britain's newest flagship hospitals.
Catherine Brown had to wait an agonising 21 hours for a scan to discover her 18-week-old unborn son was dying.
When the 30 year old surveyor, whose own life was threatened by the pregnancy, agreed to undergo a chemically-induced abortion she was transferred to a mixed sex ear, nose and throat ward - because there was no dedicated gynaecological unit at the new £238 million Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex.
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Catherine Brown only had her mother Sheila to help her give birth
She finally gave birth, after waiting an agonising hour for gas and air to be provided to ease her pain, standing over a toilet with her distraught mother by her side because there were no trained midwives available to help her.
Her premature son Edward died minutes later in her arms and the heartbroken mother-of-one said yesterday: "When I delivered Edward I just howled and howled.
"I remember sitting there looking at him and thinking "What do I do next?".
"I just sat there on the toilet looking at my dead baby. It was dreadful - a terrible nightmare.
"Then I started crying my eyes out and repeating "I'm sorry baby, I'm so sorry".
"I still can't believe the hospital had no trained staff who could help me with my poor baby. It was like asking an electrician to do a plumber's job."
To compound Catherine's agony, the body of her tiny premature baby was almost discarded amongst hospital waste.
The disturbing case once again threw the spotlight on Britain's failing National Health Service and sparked calls by her MP for an independent review into the "traumatic" case.
The catalogue of errors at the showpiece hospital - that only opened last December - began 11 weeks into Miss Brown's pregnancy when she started suffering abdominal pains.
She was told she was suffering from a urinary infection which would not affect her pregnancy but on the evening of February 21 she started bleeding and was rushed to hospital.
Her condition was stabilised with intravenous antibiotics and in the early hours of the following morning she was moved to Cornflower B, an ear, nose and throat ward where a bed was available.
Miss Brown was placed in an annexe off the mixed sex ward with three other women but there was no door to the room, giving her no privacy.
Yet by 5pm on February 22 she had still not had a scan and one was only arranged at 7pm after her mother, Sheila Keeling, 51, threatened to make an official complaint.
Doctors discovered there was no amniotic fluid around the baby, meaning his chances of survival were minimal even if the pregnancy had continued.
Miss Brown's own life was threatened by her condition and, following a consultant gynaecologist's advice, she took the devastating decision to undergo a chemically-induced abortion late that evening, after which she was moved into a private room.
At 4am on the 23rd she went into labour but complained she had to wait an hour for gas and air to help with the pain.
With no professional help available, she decided to go to her en suite bathroom and stand over the toilet, which had a disabled bar for support, because she had given birth to her first son, 18-month-old Matthew, in an upright position.
Her terrified mother Sheila, of Hornchurch, feared she would lose her daughter as she lost a lot of blood in the drama.
"I was running around frantically trying to find gas and air for her and pleaded with nurses, who seemed very matter of fact, to assist," she said.
"The staff I did find told me they did not have the training to help.
"Catherine was left to deliver the baby alone with just me for help before cleaning herself up and going back to bed. It was horrific."
In a further administrative error, Catherine said staff almost took Edward's remains away for disposal despite her informing the hospital she wanted to hold a funeral.
She explained: "They didn't even record the details of Edward's birth. But he did exist. And more than that, he was a very special little boy.
"And he has made sure that other families won't have to go through what we did. We'll never forget him."
Tests later revealed Miss Brown had septicemia, possibly caused by the placenta failing to implant properly.
This may have caused the blood clot which became infected.
Miss Brown, who lives in Hornchurch and has split with Edward and Matthew's father, said the mental and physical toll of her experience meant she had to stop work as a utility surveyor and is only now close to recovering.
Fighting back tears, her mother said: "It was really hard watching my daughter go through that.
"No one was there to reassure us and make us think they knew what they were doing."
Miss Brown's MP, Conservative James Brokenshire, said: "The catalogue of errors and blunders is quite disturbing.
"There appear to have been systemic issues and potentially issues about individual members of staff.
"While changes have been made by the hospital it is such a horrific story I want everything to be closely scrutinised.
"This has to be one of the most harrowing medical cases I have ever had to deal with.
"Catherine almost died and she later discovered the baby had nearly been disposed of with medical waste."
Queen's Hospital was opened at the end of last year, taking over maternity services from Oldchurch Hospital in Romford.
Women more than 20 weeks pregnant who experience complications are seen by A&E and sent to the maternity unit if necessary.
Those under 20 weeks also go through A&E but are referred to Gynaecology if problems continue.
However, there was not a dedicated gynaecology unit when Miss Brown was admitted, meaning patients were sent to a ward where a bed was available.
The Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital NHS Trust spokesman has offered its "sincere condolences" to Miss Brown.
It said: "We have now established a separate Gynaecological A&E Service, staffed by gynaecological, medical and nursing staff with access to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit.
"From the end of this month, the whole of Cornflower B will be a dedicated gynaecological ward, with the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit situated within it.
"This will ensure dedicated and appropriate care."
Timeline of Miss Brown's trauma
February 21
• 8.30pm: Catherine Brown starts haemorrhaging. Emergency services contacted.
• 8.45pm: Paramedic arrives and begins stabilising her condition. Ambulance arrives minutes later.
• 9.30pm: Arrives at A&E in Queen's Hospital, Romford, suffering low blood pressure and high temperature. Given intravenous antibiotics.
February 22
• 3am: Admitted to Cornflower B, a mixed-sex ear, nose and throat ward. Monitored during night. Told to expect scan in morning.
• 5pm: Miss Brown's mother threatens to make official complaint as still waiting for scan.
• 7pm: Scan takes place. Consultant gynaecologist later advises inducing birth as Miss Brown's life at risk.
• 11pm: Moved to private room with en suite bathroom and given tablet to induce birth.
February 23
• 4am: Goes into labour. Waits an hour for air and gas.
• 6am: Moves into bathroom and stands over toilet. • 8am: Edward delivered into receptacle given by staff. No one on hand to assist or record birth details except Miss Brown's mother.
Baby dies after mother is forced to deliver it herself in hospital toilet | the Daily Mail
Baby dies after mother is forced to deliver it herself in hospital toilet
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