Save Bridlington Hospital

A Bridlington woman has said her stillborn baby could have been saved if she had been taken to a local hospital.

Toni Dinan, 26, suffered a ruptured placenta 36 weeks into her pregnancy on 16 August and was found by paramedics in a pool of blood in her kitchen.

Despite living nearer to Scarborough Hospital she was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, another 20 minutes away.

But an NHS spokeswoman said that the Hull hospital had better facilities for treating poorly babies.

Miss Dinan has now lodged a complaint with the Health Service Ombudsman.

She believes her baby son Jacob would have had a chance of survival if she had been admitted to hospital sooner.

Miss Dinan had suffered complications in her pregnancy and had been booked in for a caesarean delivery at Scarborough hospital just two days later.

Miss Dinan, who lives in Fairfield Road, Bridlington with her partner John and two children, said: "I am blaming the hospital, I am blaming the NHS.

"If they had the right number of beds...we would not be having this problem and probably my baby would be here now."

She said that when the ambulance crew arrived at her house they initially had wanted to take her to Scarborough hospital.

"They phoned Scarborough hospital who refused to take me, saying there were no beds left so I had to go to Hull Royal Infirmary, which obviously meant that the baby died on the way.

"I just don't want anybody else to go through this.

"I'm devastated but I have to be strong for the two children.

"I've broken down and John's pulled me back up again, but I'm just so angry.

"Every time people say he should be here it just destroys me."

Freya Oliver, acting head of midwifery at Scarborough Hospital, said: "Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust would like to offer its deepest sympathies and condolences to Toni Dinan and her family for their very sad loss.

"Although we have the facilities to stabilise babies and transport them to another unit, neonatal intensive care facilities are not available at Scarborough Hospital.

"Very poorly babies which are born before full term may require this care, which is available in Hull.

'Most appropriate care'

"Given the clinical information available about the patient we feel the right decision was made at the time.

"All decisions over patient admissions and to which unit are made on the grounds of where the mother and baby are likely to receive the safest, most appropriate clinical care on an individual case basis.

"Capacity on both labour ward and special care baby units also have to be taken into account when making a decision.

"This approach is standard for all such units regionally."

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Mother's anger over baby's death

A Bridlington woman has said her stillborn baby could have been saved if she had been taken to a local hospital. Toni Dinan, 26, suffered a ruptured placenta 36 weeks into her pregnancy on 16 August and was found by paramedics in a pool of blood in her kitchen. Despite living nearer to Scarborough Hospital she was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, another 20 minutes away. But an NHS spokeswoman said that the Hull hospital had better facilities for treating poorly babies. Miss Dinan has now lodged a complaint with the Health Service Ombudsman.
She believes her baby son Jacob would have had a chance of survival if she had been admitted to hospital sooner. Miss Dinan had suffered complications in her pregnancy and had been booked in for a caesarean delivery at Scarborough hospital just two days later. Miss Dinan, who lives in Fairfield Road, Bridlington with her partner John and two children, said: "I am blaming the hospital, I am blaming the NHS. "If they had the right number of beds...we would not be having this problem and probably my baby would be here now." She said that when the ambulance crew arrived at her house they initially had wanted to take her to Scarborough hospital. "They phoned Scarborough hospital who refused to take me, saying there were no beds left so I had to go to Hull Royal Infirmary, which obviously meant that the baby died on the way. "I just don't want anybody else to go through this. "I'm devastated but I have to be strong for the two children. "I've broken down and John's pulled me back up again, but I'm just so angry. "Every time people say he should be here it just destroys me." Freya Oliver, acting head of midwifery at Scarborough Hospital, said: "Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust would like to offer its deepest sympathies and condolences to Toni Dinan and her family for their very sad loss. "Although we have the facilities to stabilise babies and transport them to another unit, neonatal intensive care facilities are not available at Scarborough Hospital. "Very poorly babies which are born before full term may require this care, which is available in Hull. 'Most appropriate care' "Given the clinical information available about the patient we feel the right decision was made at the time. "All decisions over patient admissions and to which unit are made on the grounds of where the mother and baby are likely to receive the safest, most appropriate clinical care on an individual case basis. "Capacity on both labour ward and special care baby units also have to be taken into account when making a decision. "This approach is standard for all such units regionally."


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