Parents haunted by death of baby

Coroner reviews hospital’s care

THE grief-stricken Sydney parents forced to deliver their baby alone at a Sydney hospital more than three years ago have told her inquest of the ordeal of losing their daughter.

Manusiu Amone was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck on November 25, 2014 at Fairfield Hospital and although her breathing was induced, she died soon after.

Her mother, Sharon Amone, said no medical staff were present as her daughter was born, causing her husband to frantically call for help with an emergency buzzer.

“He was pressing the buzzer – no one came,” she told Glebe Coroners Court yesterday.

Ms Amone’s husband, Sam Amone, broke down as he gave evidence via phone, saying when no staff answered the emergency button he tried to deliver the baby himself.

“As soon as she had the baby I just ran outside and just screamed for someone to come,” he said.

Ms Amone wiped tears from her eyes in court as her husband said a nurse arrived at the birth room within two minutes, but it felt like “an age”.

The court heard the nurse was able to induce breathing by slapping the baby’s buttocks, but Mr Amone’s voice broke as he remembered realising something wasn’t right.

“Her breathing seemed short, as if she was gasping for air,” he said.

A midwife took the baby to the special care unit, where resuscitation efforts continued for some time, but the newborn could not be revived.

Staffing, workloads and rostering at the hospital will be investigated during the inquest.

A lawyer representing South Western Sydney Local Health District acknowledged aspects of care provided were “deficient”.

The court heard that shortly before the birth, Ms Amone was given 150mg of pethidine, a drug usually used for pain relief in labour, which a medical expert witness described as excessive.

An autopsy report found the baby’s death was most likely due to the toxic effects of pethidine.