Terrified mum gave birth to premature baby after she was left all on her own

TINY LEXIE WAS BORN WITH BRAIN DAMAGE AND DIED WHEN SHE WAS JUST THREE MONTHS OLD

- By ED CHATTERTON

A HEARTBROKEN mum has told how her premature baby died after she was left alone to give birth by herself at a scandal-hit NHS hospital.

Ashley Lamb lost little Lexie at three months old following delays in her “substandard” care at two Nottingham hospitals at the centre of one of the largest maternity scandals in NHS history.

The 27-year-old believes a procedure she underwent a week before she went into early labour - and being left alone to give birth - were part of poor care she received.

Despite being classed as high risk, she was left on the ward with a trainee midwife when she suddenly felt the need to push, Ms Lamb said.

The midwife ran off to get help - but, by the time she returned, traumatised Ms Lamb had given birth to tiny Lexie, who weighed just 570 grams - little more than a bag of flour.

When she complained about being left alone, Ms Lamb said she was simply told: “Sometimes these things happen”

Lexie was rushed into neonatal intensive care with brain damage and a perforated bowel.

Despite multiple surgeries and Lexie having to be resuscitated several times, the decision was made to turn off the machines which were keeping her alive.

Ms Lamb went on to launch a medical negligence claim against Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust over the level of care she received.

She has since settled her claim and received a payout but, after the trust refused to admit liability, she says she is still without the answers she deserves.

Ms Lamb, of Newark, said: “I didn’t want to have to take legal action. But I felt I had no choice. They weren't listening to my concerns about the care I had received, and they were disputing so much of what I remembered.

“I was desperate for someone to take it seriously. I've never had a proper apology. Just legal letters telling me I'm mistaken.