Inquest hears baby 'may have survived' had paramedics saved 'critical' time
Date published: 03 September 2018
Jessica Harland passed away after her mother, Sarah Grimes, was admitted to the Royal Oldham Hospital on Sunday, October 21, 2017, complaining of abdominal pain and was bleeding heavily while being 35 weeks pregnant.
An inquest into the death of an Oldham baby has heard that she might have survived had ambulance crews used their blue lights while transferring her mother to hospital.
Jessica Harland passed away after being delivered by emergency caesarean section back in October, 2017.
Her mother, Sarah Grimes, was admitted to the Royal Oldham Hospital on Sunday, October 21, 2017, complaining of abdominal pain and was bleeding heavily while being 35 weeks pregnant.
The inquest heard paramedics could have saved critical amounts of time by using their blue lights to rush the mother to hospital, however they spent several minutes longer than was required at Miss Grimes house believing she’d been stabilised, but they missed crucial signs her condition was life-threatening.
Despite the best efforts of doctors at hospital, baby Jessica died soon after Sarah gave birth.
Recording a narrative conclusion, Coroner Joanne Kearsley told the inquest: “Time was critical and nobody can say what would have happened, but on the balance of probabilities, had she been admitted to hospital earlier, the placental abruption would not have occurred and Jessica would have been delivered earlier, meaning she may have survived.
“The evidence I have heard leads me to find that Sarah should have been at hospital 15 minutes earlier.”
She added: “It is clear that Miss Grimes needed urgent medical assistance, and the care afforded to her was not of an acceptable standard.
“Transport to the hospital should have been taken with blue lights and the wrong decision was taken.
“Upon arrival at the hospital it was noted by doctors and midwives that there was no degree of urgency displayed by both paramedics."
The two-day inquest heard that Miss Grimes had suffered a placenta abruption with Neonatologist Consultant Professor Simon Mitchell telling the hearing: “If Jessica could have been delivered 15 minutes earlier I believe she would have been born in a better condition and more likely to have survived.”
An internal investigation by North West Ambulance Service found that both paramedics failed to do an adequate examination and assessment of Miss Grimes and missed key indicators which would’ve pointed to her condition being life-threatening.
In a statement following the inquest, the service said: “The trust would like to express its sincere condolences to Jessica’s family for their very sad loss, we appreciate this must be a difficult time for them.
“The trust strives to provide the very best of care to all of our patients and we acknowledge that on this occasion, this was sadly not the case.
“The trust’s own internal review into this incident identified that there were failings but we have already implemented extensive measures, such as improvements to training, to ensure better future care for patients.
“The improvements made by NWAS and the reasons for doing so, are being shared with other ambulance services nationally to ensure improved care throughout the country.”
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