MOTHERS have come forward with more stories of how their babies have either died or suffered at the hands of hospital workers.

Five women contacted the Evening News to share their experiences after reading about Nadia and Steven Jones' plight in yesterday's paper.

The couple, of Broom Crescent, Kidderminster, claim a series of blunders at Worcestershire Royal Hospital left their little baby Harry dead.

Now Michelle Tyrer, aged 32, and Terry Mapp, aged 33, of Liverpool Road, Ronkswood, Worcester, say they were devastated when their son Liam died at the Royal in June after a "cervical seep" - a procedure to induce labour - left Michelle with an infection.

Michelle, who was two weeks overdue, claims midwives did not act quickly enough and failed to supply her with enough information, ultimately leading to Liam's stillbirth.

"I'd had a healthy pregnancy and was really excited looking forward to my little boy being born," said Michelle, who has twins Abbi and Alicia, aged two.

"I've since found out that, after having a cervical sweep, you shouldn't wait longer than 96 hours before you have your baby because it can cause an infection and stop the baby from breathing. Yet they gave me an appointment more than 48 hours after the 96 hours.

"I had told them at the time that I was worried because I was leaking water and bleeding but they just said it was normal.

"When I did go into labour they told me in a real matter-of-fact way that my baby was dead and I'd have to give birth to him. There was no compassion or feeling.

"If they told me the risks of a cervical sweep I wouldn't have had one. I would have waited a bit longer.

"It was supposed to be one of happiest times of my life but it was all taken away from me.

"The level of care was appalling."

Carley Smith and Craig Windiate, both aged 19, also contacted the Evening News yesterday.

Their story was first revealed by the Evening News last April, when they told how staff at the hospital gave their stillborn baby to the wrong family to bury.

Now Carley, of Keswick Drive, Warndon, who is in the process of suing the Royal, says part of her complaint is that she was left too long with her waters broken and developed an infection, which she says led to Cameron-Louise's death.

"I just want them to admit responsibility for what they have done," she said.

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Emma Byrne, aged 29, of Swallowfield, Warndon Villages

Emma Byrne was horrified when midwives asked her to pack her bags and leave the hospital just 40 minutes after she had given birth to Maddison, now aged one.

And she claims that she was only seen a handful of times during her labour, which lasted nearly 24 hours.

"Because it was my seventh pregnancy they seemed to think I could cope on my own because they were so understaffed, but I was terrified and in a lot of pain," she said.

"I ended up having to get my neighbour, who had gone with me, to help me."

Mandy Smith, aged 37, of Corse Avenue, Warndon Villages

Mandy Smith claims her 17-year-old daughter Jenna Crump has vowed never to have children again after her ordeal at the Royal, five weeks ago.

She says the ward was so understaffed that Jenna's labour lasted three hours longer than necessary and, at one stage, a midwife went to give her the wrong medication - then begged them not to tell anyone when she realised her blunder.

Jenna spent days constantly vomiting and eventually discharged herself and contacted her own GP who stopped the sickness immediately.

"The experience has meant she has been unable to bond with her new daughter Lilly-Mae," she said.

Denise Cleaver, aged 29, of Newton Close, Bewdley

Denise Cleaver, who is seven months pregnant, says her recent stay in the maternity suite at the Royal has put her off having her baby there.

She was admitted after suffering kidney problems, but claims staff failed to discover she had kidney stones until she persisted in complaining. She claims she was given inadequate pain-killers, the ward was dirty and staff were overworked

Harry's tale sparked response

THE complaints were triggered by an article in yesterday's Evening News on a mother blaming a series of hospital blunders for the death of her baby.

Nadia and Steven Jones, of Broom Crescent, Kidderminster, were horrified when Royal Hospital staff told them their son Harry was dead - then discovered he was fighting for his life in a neo-natal unit.

He died hours later.

The couple's nightmare began on Saturday, September 11, when Nadia's waters broke. She was taken into hospital the following day as she still had not gone into labour.

She claims midwives failed to do routine checks and, when she expressed concerns the baby was hardly moving, was told everything was OK and to go home.

The news came on the same day a damning reporton Worcestershire's maternity services was made public. The Worcestershire Maternity Service Review calls for immediate improvements.

The report stated mums-to-be and midwives felt staffing levels were insufficient - at times threatening patients' safety.

In a statement from the hospital, it said it had "enormous sympathy with the Jones family for the loss of their baby" and the care given to Mrs Jones was "appropriate and within national guidelines".

John Rostill, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's chief executive, assured parents the county's maternity services were safe.

Mums - I'm sorry

we let you down

HOSPITAL chief John Rostill has apologised to the women who feel let down by its maternity services and admitted some mistakes have been made.

But the chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, said he had "no doubt" the vast majority of women were happy with the care they received.

"In this trust we have many talented and extremely dedicated midwives, doctors and managers - but even they sometimes make mistakes.

"What is important is to make sure that we know when these mistakes are made, learn from them and use what we have learnt to do things better in the future.

"I apologise to anyone who feels they have been let down by this trust and urge them to help us take something positive from their experiences for the benefit of patients in the future."

He urged anyone who has concerns about the care they have received to contact the hospital.

"Then we can give them an explanation, answer their questions, and give an apology where one is needed," he said.

"Although childbirth is a natural process, it is not a risk-free one, and sadly there can never be a 100 per cent guarantee that every baby can be delivered safely.

"Our maternity services are regularly inspected by a number of independent external assessors and have always achieved the required standards of care and levels of safety."

The trust's consultant paediatrician Dr Andrew Short, said figures show eight babies in every 1,000 that are from a pregnancy beyond 24 weeks will either be stillborn or will not survive beyond their first week and that figures for Worcestershire are slightly below this average.

Any mum-to-be with concerns should speak to her midwife.