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Baby ward shortages 'scandalous' Baby ward shortages 'scandalous'
(10 minutes later)
A coroner has branded midwife shortages at a hospital where a newborn baby died on an overstretched maternity ward as "nothing short of scandalous".A coroner has branded midwife shortages at a hospital where a newborn baby died on an overstretched maternity ward as "nothing short of scandalous".
Deputy coroner for Milton Keynes Thomas Osborne said "systems failures" led to the death of Ebony McCall.Deputy coroner for Milton Keynes Thomas Osborne said "systems failures" led to the death of Ebony McCall.
An inquest heard the baby girl only had a faint heartbeat when she was born by Caesarean section at Milton Keynes General Hospital in May this year.An inquest heard the baby girl only had a faint heartbeat when she was born by Caesarean section at Milton Keynes General Hospital in May this year.
Her mother, Amanda McCall, had medical conditions including cardiac disease.Her mother, Amanda McCall, had medical conditions including cardiac disease.
A hospital spokesman said: "We are very sorry indeed for the distress and grief caused to them by the death of their daughter Ebony." Tony Halton, director of nursing at Milton Keynes Hospital, said: "On behalf of the Trust I would like to offer the McCall family our deepest condolences.
He said: "Changes have already been made to the way we work to improve the safety of our maternity services." "We are very sorry indeed for the distress and grief caused to them by the death of their daughter Ebony."
He added: "Changes have already been made to the way we work to further improve the safety of our maternity services."
Miss McCall, who has only one kidney, was admitted to hospital on 8 May with stomach pains.Miss McCall, who has only one kidney, was admitted to hospital on 8 May with stomach pains.
Bed shortagesBed shortages
She went into labour that night but the baby's heartbeat became erratic, necessitating the emergency Caesarean section.She went into labour that night but the baby's heartbeat became erratic, necessitating the emergency Caesarean section.
Ebony was born at 0321 GMT on 9 May and died 14 minutes later.Ebony was born at 0321 GMT on 9 May and died 14 minutes later.
The three-day inquest was told that staff and bed shortages at the hospital had brought criticism before and now the case had been referred to the Secretary of State for further investigation.The three-day inquest was told that staff and bed shortages at the hospital had brought criticism before and now the case had been referred to the Secretary of State for further investigation.
Speaking after the inquest, Amanda's father Terry McCall said: "The family and I are very relieved that the coroner has referred it back to the Secretary of State.Speaking after the inquest, Amanda's father Terry McCall said: "The family and I are very relieved that the coroner has referred it back to the Secretary of State.
"Hopefully it will make things safer for other women giving birth in Milton Keynes."Hopefully it will make things safer for other women giving birth in Milton Keynes.
Had the problems been picked up it's likely she would have been with us now, celebrating her first Christmas Terry McCall, Ebony's grandfather
"There seems to be no reason that Ebony died."There seems to be no reason that Ebony died.
"She was born at full term and she was a healthy 7lbs 4oz and, even thought she had a slight infection, had the problems been picked up it's likely she would have been with us now, celebrating her first Christmas." "She was born at full term and she was a healthy 7lbs 4oz and, even thought she had a slight infection, had the problems been picked up it's likely she would have been with us now, celebrating her first Christmas.
He added: "I am absolutely enraged to think that there was no reason for Ebony's death."
He said Ebony's death had had a devastating impact on the family.
"During the summer instead of going around walking our new granddaughter in her pushchair we were having to go round cemeteries with Amanda as she decided where to bury her.
"The family is not interested in Christmas now, it's just not going to be the same."
Health Minister Ann Keen said: "England is still one of the safest places in the world to have a baby.
"To meet the challenges of a rising birth rate and to increase quality of care, we have increased capacity for maternity and neonatal services with additional investment and staff."
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Milton Keynes NHS Foundation Trust's Tony Halton: "We are very sorry indeed"Milton Keynes NHS Foundation Trust's Tony Halton: "We are very sorry indeed"