Mother's shock over empty coffin

The body was left in the in the mortuary for weeks

Health chiefs have apologised to a mother after the body of her stillborn baby was discovered in a mortuary months after the funeral.

Managers at the Leeds General Infirmary apologised to Michelle Rhodes, 22, of Bramley, Leeds, after they realised the coffin contained only cards, photographs, poems and the placenta.

Catherine Beardshaw, the director of operations for women's and children's services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, blamed human error for the mistake.

But Miss Rhodes said she was disgusted, adding: "How could people not notice that she was not in the coffin, and how could they not notice her lying in the mortuary for two months?"

Deeply sorry

The funeral had been held on 11 August, a week after the baby was delivered.

Mrs Beardshaw said the hospital was "deeply and sincerely sorry for the mistake which brought so much distress to the baby's family".

Hospital staff found the body of baby Bobbi Leigh on 7 October, but delayed telling Miss Rhodes until a support team was assembled to help her cope with the news.

"It was an awful experience to lose a baby and particularly distressing to have the pain and anguish re-kindled after holding a funeral in an attempt to move on from such a tragedy," added Mrs Beardshaw.

I just burst into tears - it was a huge shock Michelle Rhodes

The hospital said due to staff sickness, an inexperienced member of staff was on duty when the funeral directors came to collect the remains.

The baby's body and placenta were stored separately in the mortuary, but the member of staff did not realise this.

Miss Rhodes said the news stunned her: "I just burst into tears - it was a huge shock.

"I have never heard anything like before in my life."

The mother-of-two said that problems began in July when it was discovered the baby had fluid around the chest and lungs and an enlarged heart.

After the baby had been given a blood transfusion while still in the womb on 31 July Miss Rhodes returned home to her partner Bobby and daughters Danielle, six, and Courtney, aged three, but the infant died inside her that night.

She had to carry the baby for another two days before a lengthy labour began.

The trust says it will meet the cost of any further funeral arrangements.