The parents of a five day old baby who died after suffering a collapsed lung are embroiled in a legal battle with a hospital.
Creed-Lux O’Neill was born at Royal Stoke University Hospital weighing in at just 2lbs on September, 29, 2021 but one day later suffered a cardiac arrest which led to the collapse of one of his lungs. He was then resuscitated and had to have two chest drains inserted, reports Stoke on Trent Live.
Little Creed-Lux was born premature at 25 weeks and five days to parents Helen O’Neill, 30, and Joel Broome but tragically at only five days old, Creed-Lux died at 12.52am on October 4, 2021.
The cause of death was registered as 'pulmonary haemorrhage and prematurity at 25 weeks gestation' but his parents are fighting to get this changed to a pneumothorax, a collapsed lung. The parents have complained about the treatment of their baby at the hospital.
Helen said: “In my opinion, the care was non-existent. It was just me and my partner calling the doctors."
A mortality review into the death identified issues that ‘require learning,’ but it continued that this would have made no difference to the outcome.
The review identified challenges with communication between medical staff, and that they could have taken some blood gases quicker, and his feeding tube should have been moved faster. It also discovered that Creed-Lux could have received more medicine to help with the clotting, and the second chest drain could have been inserted and adjusted in a better way.
The documentation in some of his bereavement care also needed to be improved. Helen added: “In the investigation they have admitted what they did wrong but said it would not have changed the outcome.
"But the care they provided would have changed his outcome, it would have made a massive difference. I want them to say there’s a problem and do something about it.”
The legal battle comes as Helen last month suffered a miscarriage at 13 weeks.
She said: “I had a miscarriage on 21 April. The care I was given was ridiculous. I was in an incredible amount of pain. I arrived at about 10.30pm and wasn’t seen until around 1.30am.
"A gynaecologist felt my stomach and told me I wasn’t contracting. They did a cervical examination and told me my cervix was closed. Two minutes later, I got off the bed and was going to the toilet, I passed my baby, I had my baby in my hands.
“I’m frustrated. I was there again and nothing had changed. I don’t think these people believed how much pain I was in. I want them to investigate and I want improvements.”
Local media also reported earlier this month that 31 babies died in the care of the Royal Stoke in 2021, and that the hospital has been ordered to make urgent improvements.
Helen added: "We have to live now without our children. We don’t even remember what Creed looks like. It’s a scary thing seeing your baby that small, attached to that many things. Your body goes into shock, you can’t care for your own baby, it was up to the doctors. People say he’s in the best place and then the next time I see him he’s dead. They need to admit that there is a problem."
The Royal Stoke refused to comment on Creed-Lux's death but issued a statement regarding the miscarriage.
Chief nurse Ann-Marie Riley said: “We were saddened to hear that Mrs O’Neill had lost her baby. It is heart-breaking for any parent to lose a child and that it must be an extremely distressing experience for any mother. We strive to ensure that patients receive the highest standards of care possible and we are extremely sorry that Mrs O’Neill has had cause to complain about the care she received here. We are in contact with Mrs O’Neill so we can fully investigate her concerns.”
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