Investigation into Burscough mum’s complaints over care from maternity staff at Ormskirk Hospital

Mar 14 2013 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

A NEW mum claims she went into labour as she lay alone in a ward at Ormskirk Hospital – and had to phone her mother to get maternity staff to rush to her bedside.

Christina Royle has complained to the hospital trust about the care she received and said the experience has put her off having more children.

The trust confirmed it is now investigating the “concerning allegations”.

The 23-year-old, from Burscough, said she went into labour with daughter Nancy after being given painkillers and left alone in her room in the early hours of December 27.

She claims the call bell to alert staff was not placed within her reach – and it was only due to the fact she had booked a TV package that included a phone that she was able to call her mum, who then alerted staff on the ward.

Christina said: “I wanted having my first baby to be a positive experience with my family around, but instead I went though most of my labour alone crying in a dark room.”

The young mum was booked in to be induced on Boxing Day, and was admitted with no issues during the day. But she says problems arose following the start of the night shift. Christina said staff initially told her mum and partner Jonathan they could stay with her overnight as she was the only patient on the ward. But she says they later asked them both to leave as nothing would happen that night. She said she was given diamorphine and told to get some sleep. But, after her pain began to increase, she was unable to get the nurses’ attention by shouting for them – and then realised she had not been given the call bell.

Christina said: “I couldn’t cope with the pain, I looked around for the buzzer but I couldn’t see it anywhere. Then I remembered about the TV package. I called mum and she could tell from the noises I was making I was ready to push.

“She told me to put the phone down so she could alert the nurses. She called them at 1.24am and they came running in and wheeled me to the labour ward. Mum and Jonathan got there at 1.55am and I had Nancy five minutes later. Thankfully everything was fine but if I hadn’t bought that TV package I would have given birth on that bed on my own and the nurses wouldn’t have even known. I feel I was neglected and ignored during my time on the ward.”

Angela Kelly, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust’s deputy director of nursing, said: “These are very concerning allegations which we are investigating thoroughly.

“Once the investigation is complete, we will discuss our findings with Ms Royle directly.”