A mother has spoken of her trauma after her son was left with cerebral palsy following failings in maternity care at a London hospital.
Sim Kaur suffered a uterine rupture and large haemorrhage shortly before delivering her second son, Fateh, at Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge in August 2018.
She had initially been scheduled to undergo a Caesarian section, but doctors opted for a vaginal birth as he had moved position.
During labour, doctors reported the baby’s heart rate to be normal. However, it was later discovered that it had been pathological more than once, which would have indicated the need for an urgent delivery.
Sim, 42, began complaining of severe pain and an ultrasound found that she had suffered a uterine rupture and large haemorrhage. She lost three pints of blood.
Doctors performed an emergency C-section and Fateh was born unable to breathe and pale, with no heart rate.
Due to being starved of oxygen, he was transferred to another hospital for brain cooling. He began suffering seizures and an MRI scan identified brain damage.
Three months later, Fateh was discharged home.
Now aged six, Fateh is tube tube-fed and receives medication for his seizures and muscle spasms. He also has significant respiratory problems and has been diagnosed with epilepsy and cerebral palsy, with a reduced life expectancy to his late 20s.
Fateh remains non-verbal and has undergone gastrostomy surgery to be permanently fed via a tube.
Sim, a former HR business partner, from Hertfordshire, said: “When I was in labour, I was in severe pain and kept saying it was getting worse but nobody was listening to me. I felt completely helpless and I thought I was going to die.
“Since then, my mental health has suffered catastrophically. I will never recover from it fully and at some point I’ll lose my son as well.
“As it is, he can’t walk, talk or eat by himself, and to know that his condition will only deteriorate is heartbreaking.”
She went on: “My poor boy has been left with a devastating injury which will impact him for the rest of his life, and to find out that this should have been avoided had we received the care we should have and been delivered earlier is heartbreaking.
“It’s incredibly difficult not to think that when Fateh and I needed help the most, we were badly let down by those who should have looked after us. I really hope that by sharing my story, something is learned from what has happened. I wouldn’t want any other family suffering in the way we have.”
Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the hospital, admitted that Sim’s rupture should have been avoided and has admitted liability for Fateh’s injuries.
It also accepted that the management of his delivery “was not of an appropriate standard” and there was “a delay”, expressing “profound regret.”
The Standard has contacted the Trust for further comment.
Sim has since instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and gain access to specialist support, rehabilitation and therapy.
Irwin Mitchell is working with the Trust to agree settlements for Sim and Fateh to ensure he has access to the lifelong care and support he will require, which includes nurses due to the complexity of his needs.
Interim payments have been made by the Trust throughout the case, according to Irwin Mitchell.
Auriana Griffiths, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at the firm, representing Sim and Fateh, said: “What should have been a happy time turned to trauma and despair for Sim, who continues to be greatly affected physically and mentally by what happened to her and Fateh and following Fateh’s cerebral palsy diagnosis.
“Through our work, we sadly see too many families left devastated by birth injuries and life-long consequences these can have.
“While we welcome the Hospital Trust’s admissions, it’s vital that lessons are learned to improve maternity safety and prevent other families from going through what Sim and Fateh have.”
