‘Opportunities missed to save my baby’

Joanne Noad of Leeds was classed as a low risk pregnancy when she went into labour on a midwife-led unit at the hospital in November 2011, an inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard.

She had suffered problems with a condition called shoulder dystocia when she gave birth to a previous child.

But her risk category was not upgraded when she returned to the hospital to give birth again four-and-a-half-years later.#

Miss Noad’s baby son Reece Noad-Caine died from brain damage after being starved of oxygen when he became stuck during birth due to shoulder dystopia on November 20 2011.

In a statement read at the inquest, Miss Noad said: “They (the hospital) told me there were many missed opportunities to realise I was high risk. And also that Reece would likely be here now if I had been induced or had a c-section when I should have.”

In June 2011, Miss Noad had been seen by Dr Bramara Guruwadayarhalli, who was working as a locum consultant in Leeds. Dr Guruwadayarhalli said she did not have Miss Noad’s notes on her two previous births when she saw her for the 20 minute consultation. Dr Guruwadayarhalli said she wrote out a care plan but did not communicate it to community midwives and Miss Noad’s GP, adding: “In this case I have not done a letter, which ideally I should have.”

The inquest continues.