A couple from Edinburgh has spoken out about their “petrifying” experience at the city’s Royal Infirmary maternity unit, which “hurt” them after their baby suffered seizures and brain injuries during labour. Edinburgh Royal Infirmary’s unit for obstetrics triage and assessment previously faced whistle-blowing complaints about rotas, high numbers of complex patients, and a “toxic” workplace culture. An independent review found the unit had harmed mothers and newborns during patient checks due to short-staffing. Staff have since shared concerns that patient safety has not been addressed after the review.
The couple’s baby, Roddy, was born at the unit in August 2023, suffering seizures as a result of being distress during birth and the mother having sepsis. The hospital carried out a review stating that there were delays in the essential maternal observations and treatment that could have prevented the injuries. Naomi and Ali Clark, the parents, said they “felt let down” by the unit, where staff “put out fires” rather than helping patients. While Roddy, now almost 18 months old, has met all major milestones, the parents worry about his neurological progress and feel uncertain about having more children.
The NHS Lothian healthcare board has embarked on a programme of improvement since August 2024 amid rising numbers of complex cases, with significant recruitment ongoing and staff augmentation using trained personnel. The deputy chief executive of NHS Lothian, Jim Crombie, has apologised to the couple publicly. Scotland’s maternity units will also undergo unannounced inspections from the Healthcare Improvement Scotland safety watchdog following a rise in newborn deaths.
The pressures facing the NHS and the need for patient safety are vital public concerns, particularly in maternity care where the majority of experiences are positive. The staff’s whistle-blowing complaints should alert the health board to the extent of concern within their workforce, particularly as there is little choice of where to give birth within Edinburgh, and provide some surety for future patients
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More