EXCLUSIVE: Dudley couple call for change after death of baby
Jessica and Charlie Doman-Lees claim their daughter Pippa died due to medical negligence.
Last updated 9th Oct 2023
A couple from Dudley are speaking out and demanding change and accountability in maternity services, after the death of their newborn baby.
Jessica and Charlie Doman-Lees claim their daughter Pippa Maeve died in May due to medical negligence at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.
This comes after a Serious Incident Report reveals hospital staff failed to follow appropriate guidelines and perform a caesarean in time to save the baby, who was stillborn.
Mum Jessica took to Twitter/X to tell her story:
The incident was classified as 'catastrophic'
This was the first child of the couple, who claim they raised repeated concerns of the size of their baby, and later that they could no longer feel her kicking.
Jessica and Charlie also said their concerns were not listened to on multiple occasions, after presenting to doctors with concerns relating to reduced foetal movements five times.
The Serious Incident Report, conducted by an investigation team at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, has classified the incident as 'catastrophic'.
'The decision should have been made to deliver at 21:40 hrs'
The report writer noted a number of problems in the NHS trust's care service and delivery.
These included: failure to manage abnormal CTG monitoring on the day of delivery to local and national guidelines and a failure to refer the case to consultants for advice.
Most notably, the report noted a delay in immediately performing a caesarean section.
It is noted in the report that the 'decision should have been made to deliver at 21:40 hrs' - the baby was not delivered until 23:40.
The report also added that no preparation was made for delivery, there was a missed opportunity to at least give one dose of steroids, and there was a failure to inform consultants of important information - such as reduced foetal movement.
Missed opportunities to discuss wellbeing with Jessica and Charlie were also stated in the report, as well as a a failure to conduct a holistic risk assessment.
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Jessica Doman-Lees shares her thoughts on this report:
"We did what we were supposed to and we trusted that they were doing what they were supposed to and unfortunately its now come to light that this wasn't the case.
"On the second time of going there we should have got a doctor and we should have been scanned.
"That was the difference between them picking up my baby was incredibly small and needed an earlier delivery.
"We definitely feel like we were not listened to."
Charlie Doman-Lees tells us what he'd like to see from the hospital going forward:
"They need to get the simple things right first, that's the most important thing.
Staff need to think based solely on the mother, the father and the baby
We understand they have resource pressures and are struggling at the moment but there needs to be that emphasis back on the public who are using that service:
The parents tells us how her loss has impacted them:
Jessica said: "This motherly instinct kicks in when you deliver a baby, everything in your body is telling you that you've had a baby and you need to be alert.
"I could hear crying after I had Pippa and I'd look for her before realising she wasn't there.
"Everything in your body is providing for you to give to this baby and you're living every minute of every day being reminded that you baby isn't there."
Charlie tells us: "From that point you sort of go into this void of nothingness. Everything else that did matter at one stage no longer matters.
"You feel robbed of everything you existed for and were looking forward to; you also lose your trust in anyone and everyone, particularly people you should be putting your trust into.
"We're having to move house- it doesn't feel like home anymore"
Jessica said, speaking to our reporter in her house: "This was supposed to be our forever home, all our memories are here, we got engaged and married here."
Charlie tells us: "Coming home from that night it didn't feel the same, we had the nursery ready for Pippa, the feeding machines and the bottles, everything was ready.
"To come home and have that empty room - we're having to move house - it doesn't feel like home anymore."
Diane Wake, Chief Executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust said on this case:
“We would like to offer our deepest condolences to Jessica, Charlie and their family after the sad loss of baby Pippa.
“We are very grateful to the family who have been extremely brave and supportive while we fully investigate the circumstances of Pippa’s death in order to learn lessons and make any necessary improvements to local maternity services.
“We are continuing to work closely with them as we learn from this tragic event.”