Parents of Stillborn Child Lodge Complaint Against U.K. Hospital

By Brittany Golledge

Published on September 08, 2005

The parents, Louisa and Jon Greenslade, of Harlow, Essex, maintain that the death of their baby could have been prevented had hospital staff not made a series of mistakes during and prior to delivery.

Mrs. Greenslade came to the maternity ward on June 20th after she exhibited signs of labor, but was sent home after several hours. When she returned to the hospital the next day, a consultant informed her and her husband that their baby had died inside the womb.

Following the delivery of the stillborn child, the Greenslade's were told during a follow-up visit that blood tests performed at 24 weeks had revealed a high level of glucose present in the infant. This condition would likely have contributed to accelerated growth during the last weeks of pregnancy, making an induced birth a viable option. The Greenslade's were then informed that these tests had been misplaced prior to delivery and hospital staff was unaware of the infant's glucose levels.

An autopsy later revealed that there appeared to be nothing wrong with the baby; however, as hospital staff had misplaced the placenta, there was no way to determine whether the infant had received adequate nutrients in the womb.

Representatives from Princess Alexandra Hospital have launched a full inquiry into the birth, as well as the allegations of negligence prior to delivery.

Comment on this article →