Medical Negligence Lawyers Join Parents Of Girl Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy In Calling For Lessons To Be Learned

A mum was left seriously injured and her daughter with lifelong disabilities following failings in their maternity care at St James' Hospital in Leeds. 

Luna Ashworth was born in a poor condition more than four days after her mum Natasha was admitted for an induction of labour. 

Mum Natasha's request for caesarean "ignored" by Leeds hospital staff

Natasha, of Wortley, Leeds, said she repeatedly asked for a caesarean as she was concerned about a lack of progress in labour. However, the first-time mum said her requests were “ignored”. 

This included the day before Luna’s birth, when following a discussion with a senior doctor she confirmed she wanted an elective caesarean. However, Natasha said she was told she could not have an elective caesarean that day because there were no staff.

Luna and Natasha seriously injured during childbirth

The following day and around 105 hours after she was admitted, concerns were raised about Luna’s heartrate. A decision was made to deliver Luna by category one caesarean - where there is an immediate threat to life. 

However, just minutes later, following a consultant review, medics proceeded with a natural delivery using forceps. Following the first pull by forceps, medics cut Natasha to allow Luna to be born vaginally at around 8.15pm on 9 July, 2018.

Luna had been starved of oxygen and had to be resuscitated. She spent five days on a ventilator and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. 

Leeds medical negligence lawyers investigate family's maternity care

Following her and her now six-year-old daughter’s ordeal, Natasha, now aged 37, instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her and Luna’s care under Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs LGI.  

Natasha, who is married to Louis, 37, is using Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month to speak for the first time about the impact care failings continue to have on her family. She is among a growing group of families represented by Irwin Mitchell who are demanding improvements in the city’s maternity services.  

Lawyers working to secure compensation as Hospital Trust admits maternity care failings

It comes after the Hospital Trust admitted a breach of duty in Luna and Natasha’s care. It admitted it failed to ensure Luna was delivered by C-section on 8 July, 2018. If she had been, Luna would have avoided her permanent brain damage which arose from being starved of oxygen immediately before she was born. Natasha would also have avoided her labour, being cut by medics and vaginal delivery with forceps, the Trust added. 

Irwin Mitchell is now working with the Hospital Trust to secure a settlement which will fund the specialist lifetime therapies and rehabilitation Luna requires. It is also seeking damages to compensate Natasha for her physical and psychological injuries which have affected her life, including her career as a mental health nurse. 

Rachelle Mahapatra is the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell's Leeds office representing the family.

Expert Opinion

“What should have been such a joyous time turned to trauma and despair for Natasha and her family.

“We continue to see too many families left devastated by birth injuries and the life-long consequences these can have. Natasha and Luna’s experience is yet another stark reminder of the impact maternity failings have. Sadly, what happened to them isn’t an isolated incident.

“The issue of maternity services in Leeds continues to be a great concern and we continue to be contacted by more families with disturbing first-hand accounts regarding their care. These include stillbirths, neo-natal deaths, serious injury to mums as well as birth injuries to babies. Common issues we see include mums not being listened to and staff not recognising things are going wrong early enough.

“As with Natasha, we’re determined to provide families the answers they deserve, and where necessary, access to specialist support and rehabilitation they require.

“It’s vital that lessons are learned from the issues families are facing so others don’t have to suffer such devastating ordeals.” Rachelle Mahapatra

Medical negligence: Natasha and Luna Hart's story

As a result of her cerebral palsy Luna has mobility and eating problems as well as hand tremors. She can’t fasten or undo buttons, laces or zips and can’t brush her teeth. She remains under the care of specialists to assess the full impact her birth injury will have on her life. 

Natasha was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and does not want any further children because of what happened to her and Luna. 

Natasha said: “I’d had a relatively straightforward pregnancy before I went into hospital and could never have imagined what would unfold. However, I became more concerned but every time I tried to raise anything I wasn’t listened to. 

“Even as a first-time mum I know my body and felt something wasn’t right. I repeatedly asked for a C-section but I felt ignored or like I was being fobbed off. 

“It was only the day Luna was born that it felt like staff were taking the situation seriously. Things started to move quickly but by then it was too late. After finally saying I should have a C-section to then go ahead with a vaginal delivery despite my wishes was unbelievable. It was such a chaotic situation and one I’ll never forget. 

“What should have been the happiest moment of our lives was the worst because of what happened.”   

Investigation into deaths of babies and mums in Leeds

In January a BBC investigation found that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mums at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital may have been preventable. The investigation followed previous concerns from families about their maternity care in Leeds. 

Natasha said: “Following Luna’s birth she was taken away to a special care baby unit and we were just hoping and praying she would pull through. 

“We missed special bonding time as a family and I suffered flashbacks of the delivery. I remained traumatised by our care. Me and Louis always wanted a little brother or sister for Luna but what happened was so harrowing that I feel unable to have more children. I had a career plan I was unable to fulfil because of what we’d been through."

Natasha reveals impact of Luna's cerebral palsy

“We knew something wasn’t right when Luna was a baby as she wasn’t developing as we thought. However, initially doctors said as she didn’t have stiff muscles she didn’t have cerebral palsy. It took some time to get a diagnosis but when we did it was a mixture of emotions. It was devastating to be told she had a lifelong disability, but in some ways, a relief to have a diagnosis. 

“Despite everything we feel so blessed to have Luna in our lives. She’s the most adorable little girl. The courage and bravery she shows every day to try and not be defined by her condition makes us so proud. It’s important for people, especially other parents who may be experiencing something similar, to know that there are different types of cerebral palsy and not uniform symptoms. 

“We try and lead as much as a normal life as we can and try and do things other families do, but it angers me what we’ve been through because of inadequate care.   

“Over time we’ve started hearing more stories about other families being impacted by maternity failings in Leeds. It’s hard enough to accept what happened to us but it astounds me how so many families appear to have also suffered maternity failings at the same hospitals.

“It’s not just one or two people but potentially dozens, if not more. Our voices now need to be heard so we can try and prevent others going through what we have.” 

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting families affected by maternity care issues at our dedicated birth injuries section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.