Maternity concerns raised.

The husband of a woman who almost died in labour has accused the hospital in Leytonstone, East London, of a catalogue of errors.  Jane McGuinness, 38, lost 5 pints of blood after suffering a haemorrhage during an emergency caesarean section carried out at Whipps Cross University Hospital in August, after waiting 2 hours for an operating table to become free.

The issues highlighted by her husband, Scott, include:-

• A midwife leaving the operating theatre to be sick;
• An anaesthetist administering a drug he had retrieved from a clinical waste bin;
• Mrs McGuinness being left unsupervised by Intensive Care Nurses for 20 minutes, during which she lost consciousness.

Mr McGuinness described the security and hygiene standards at the hospital as “absolutely horrific”. Mr McGuinness said his wife spent more than 2 weeks in hospital after undergoing a further operation to stem her bleeding and is still recovering from her condition.

Earlier this year the Care Quality Commission (CQC) issued Whipps Cross Hospital with three warnings after inspectors discovered filthy maternity wards, rooms stained with blood and inadequate equipment to resuscitate patients.

The hospital is producing a serious incident report into Mrs McGuinness’ care.  It has apologised for the delay in treatment, the lack of clean changing facilities and the anxiety caused by conduct of its staff.

A spokesman for Barts Health NHS Trust said “We are extremely sorry that Mr McGuinness is unhappy with the circumstances surrounding his wife’s birthing experience at Whipps Cross and our doctors and senior midwives have met with him to discuss his concerns”.

Helen Caulfield of the CNCI team said “Child birth can be a challenging and traumatic time for both parents.  The conditions at this hospital have given cause for concern before.  It is important that the Trust listens to the experience of patients and family members so that the hospital can be made a safer and more comfortable environment for all concerned”.