DOCTOR FLEW INTO ACTION TO HELP DELIVER BABY ON PLANE TO INDIA
Royal Stoke consultant answered emergency call
A DOCTOR flying home to India to visit her family helped deliver a premature baby in mid-air.
Dr Manju Paul, who works at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, was on an Air India flight from London to Cochin when a passenger went into labour.
The consultant dermatologist sprang into action after hearing the captain’s call for a doctor on board to help with the lifeor-death emergency.
The plane was then forced to re-route to Frankfurt to give the youngster the best chance of survival.
Dr Paul said: “About two hours into the flight, after we had food, there was an emergency call. I’ve not experienced this before.
“I have always been prepared to deal with chest pain or similar, but never thought I would end up helping to deliver a baby.”
Luckily for the mother, who was 29 weeks’ pregnant, there were a number of other experts on board during the October flight, including a neonatal nurse, who all helped out.
“Within 10 minutes of the call for medical staff, we took her to the front of the plane because it was clear she was in labour,” Dr Paul added.
“There was another doctor and four nurses, and we were all trying to work in a very small, confined space in the airplane, which was pretty challenging.
“But the teamwork was great.
“The worry was that the baby was so tiny and we had another seven hours left on the flight.
“So the decision was made to re-route to Frankfurt and allow mum and baby to receive medical care.
“Thankfully, the plane was fairly well equipped with medical equipment, and the crew were also experienced at handling surprise events.”
Dr Paul, who has worked at the University Hospital of the North Midlands as a consultant since 2016, after completing her core training at County Hospital in Stafford, said: “People on the plane were anxious, it was stressful and some were praying.
“However, it was hugely satisfying and I was thrilled to be able to help as part of the team effort.”