Health · Healthcare & Policy · 5 hrs ago
Newcastle trust admits maternity care failed after Maisie's death
Danielle Brown was sent home after doctors found her baby had died in Newcastle, England, in February 2023.
Brown was seven months pregnant and had pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Doctors had raised concerns about her daughter Maisie's heart rate, and one consultant said Brown should stay in hospital until she gave birth.
Another consultant discharged her the next day.
After Brown returned and doctors could not find the baby's heartbeat, she says staff gave her a bereaved-parents booklet and told her to arrange a time to give birth.
The trust admitted a breach of duty and said Maisie would have survived if Brown had not been sent home; it apologised and paid an undisclosed settlement.
Brown says families need better maternity care and compassionate support after a loss.
The trust said it made improvements after a review in 2023, but the details of those changes are not included in the available information.
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted that aspects of its maternity care for Danielle Brown fell below expected standards.
Brown was discharged from hospital while seven months pregnant and suffering from pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition.
After returning to hospital, she was told her daughter, Maisie, had died and was sent home with instructions to arrange a later appointment to give birth.
The trust admitted a breach of duty and that Maisie would have survived if Brown had not been sent home during her first admission.
The trust apologised, and Brown received an undisclosed settlement.
- Who
- Danielle Brown, her partner Anthony Miller and their daughter Maisie. Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted failures in care.
- What
- Brown was discharged while suffering from pre-eclampsia; Maisie later died, and Brown was sent home and told to arrange a time to give birth.
- When
- February 2023.
- Where
- The Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, Northumberland.
- Why
- The trust admitted a breach of duty and said Maisie would have survived if Brown had not been sent home during her first admission.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Brown became unwell at seven months pregnant and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.
After a consultant said she should remain in hospital until she gave birth, Brown was discharged following a review by another consultant.
Brown returned to hospital, where doctors could not find Maisie's heartbeat and told the couple their baby had died.
Brown gave birth to Maisie after 10 hours in labour.
The trust admitted a breach of duty and Brown received an undisclosed settlement.
- Mother
- Danielle Brown, 31
- Baby
- Maisie
- Condition
- Pre-eclampsia
- Hospital
- Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle
- Settlement
- Undisclosed amount
- Trust
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2 sources
What people are saying
When it was confirmed Maisie had died, we burst into tears. Nobody explained what had happened to Maisie.
Hearing that with no compassion angered me so much.
We fully accept that aspects of the care we provided fell short of the standards the family had every right to expect and offer a heartfelt apology for this.
It was horrible... lying in bed and holding that belly