Mum’s anguish
NHSchiefs ignoring daughter’s ordeal
A distraught mum has been denied a health probe after her daughter was “almost killed” at birth.
Medics told Elaine Pringle that her baby, Rebecca, would not survive a week after suffering a foetal haemorrhage.
But the brave tot, who was left with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, is now five.
An independent report has ruled her brain was starved of oxygen with staff failing to realise what was wrong.
And despite government promises to probe NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s under- fire maternity unit, furious Elaine has been told her case will not make the cut.
It follows a pledge by health secretary Shona Robison to deliver answers over a number of “unnecessary” deaths at Crosshouse. But a review team at Heathcare Improvement Scotland are set to snub five of the six families affected since 2008.
And Elaine, who had been told she would be included in the review, insists she has also been left out in the cold.
The Drongan mum, 26, said: “I’ve had to chase all the answers myself, including an expert report into Rebecca’s birth which my own lawyer commissioned.
“It’s disgusting that NHS Ayrshire and Arran don’t have to explain themselves over any of this.
“They almost killed my child and yet I’ve been told I won’t be part of this review.”
Rebecca, who is referred to as a “miracle baby” by doctors, cannot walk or talk and is confined to a wheelchair. But she has confounded predictions after Elaine was told to say her goodbyes on Christmas Eve 2011.
The formal review now taking place will only examine deaths after December 2013 – the date of the last review into NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
NHS whistleblower Rab Wilson said: “It’s a disgraceful situation to have families out there seeking answers to such tragic events. People like Elaine are owed the proper respect of an investigation.
“This is bordering on criminal negligence, which doesn’t have a time limit on it. So it is ridiculous to say there will be no probe just because it happened in 2011.”
Claire Sweeney, interim director of quality assurance at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, insisted: “The review is formally looking at the management of adverse events from December 2013 onwards.
“However, the review team had extended an open invitation to any members of the public who wanted to share their experiences of Ayrshire Maternity Unit.
“The team have met with a number of families, including some who had experiences at Crosshouse prior to December 2013.”