Baby tragedy couple's campaign

Andrew and Rachel want to avoid a repeat of the tragedy

A couple who lost their baby after they were turned away from the nearest maternity unit are campaigning to prevent other mothers being put at similar risk.

Andrew and Rachel Canter lost their baby son, when his heartbeat slowed during birth and they couldn't be treated at the nearest hospital.

They came in to the Breakfast studio on Monday to tell us their story.

"I had a great pregnancy and the delivery started very well, " Rachel told us.

They'd chosen to have their baby at a local birthing centre - and they'd been reassured to hear that the nearest full-scale hospital was a seven-minute ambulance journey away.

But, on the day Rachel's labour hit complications, they were told the nearest hospital couldn't take them.

"What should have been a seven minute journey turned into 27 minutes, to the next nearest hospital - and then there were further delays."

Instead of having an immediate Caesarean, Rachel was taken to a delivery suite. Her baby Jake was still-born.

Campaigning

Nearly a year on, Andrew and Rachel have launched a campaign which they hope will prevent other couples going through similar experiences.

"It's coming up to the anniversary of Jake's death and we now feel strong enough to take this to a wider public platform," Andrew told us.

"It's not just us - we've already had calls from people who've had the same experience elsewhere."

The couple have written to the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

"They say we're terribly sorry to hear of your loss - but what are they doing? They're still closing hospitals," Andrew said.

Statement

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals Trust has said it can't comment on individual cases. It has two large fully equipped hospitals - at Barnet and Chase Farm - which cover a large geographical area.

Normally the London Ambulance Services takes mothers to the best place for them to go - which may either be geographically nearer, or the best equipped for their particular case.

It added: "As a Trust we do strive to provide the highest quality possible of maternity services to our local community and, as such, have an extremely good record in that area."