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NHS Failed Mum, Daughter Died After Home Birth
23 Apr
Summary
- Baby Poppy Hope Lomas died at seven days old from brain damage.
- Inquest found NHS trust failed to inform mum of home birth risks.
- Midwives did not call an ambulance despite baby's declining heart rate.
A devastating home birth ended in tragedy when baby Poppy Hope Lomas died just seven days after her birth. An inquest at Barnet Coroner's Court revealed that the NHS trust responsible for the home delivery failed to adequately inform the mother, Gemma Lomas, about the inherent risks. This lack of information meant Ms. Lomas was unaware of the potential dangers, despite having a planned vaginal birth after a Caesarean (VBAC).
The court heard that the home birth midwives, part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, did not call for an ambulance even when the newborn's heart rate slowed considerably. This oversight, occurring approximately 90 minutes before birth, was identified as a serious failure in providing basic medical care. The midwife present acknowledged that an ambulance should have been summoned.
Senior coroner Andrew Walker stated the trust supported an "unsafe home delivery that was against medical advice." He highlighted an accumulation of risk factors, including prolonged membrane rupture without antibiotics, decelerations in the baby's heart rate, and the baby's poor condition at birth. These failures resulted in a delay of crucial interventions, ultimately leading to Poppy's death on October 26, 2022.
