Mother sues over birth injuries

Mother sues over birth injuries

Miss Lumley plans to sue the Harrogate NHS Trust

A young mother who claims she suffered "horrific personal injuries" during labour is suing the hospital.

Anna Lumley, 26, gave birth to her daughter Natasha at Harrogate District Hospital, North Yorkshire, on 25 July 2001.

Miss Lumley claims she was given a fourth degree tear by doctors delivering the child, caused by the incorrect use of forceps.

She further claims the injury was initially ignored and she now suffers from long-term medical problems as a result.

Lucy-Ann Pillars, Miss Lumley's solicitor, said: "Two days after being sent home with her baby, Anna was rushed back into hospital and told she would require a second urgent operation.

"Her injuries are so severe that she has been referred to a specialist in London for further operations and has had her internal muscle walls rebuilt."

Answers demanded

Miss Lumley said the incident had had a devastating effect on her life.

"I am a young woman who now has very serious and very personal injuries caused by someone not realising what they were doing.

"I get the impression Harrogate Health Trust wants me to shut up and go away, because it is really hard getting straight answers out of them.

"The trust eventually apologised but they haven't even acknowledged how bad the injuries are or how they were caused."

Harrogate NHS Trust said it would not be appropriate to make a specific statement because Miss Lumley's care was the subject of an ongoing legal claim.

Hospital apologises

But chief executive Miles Scott said: "We offer our sympathies to Miss Lumley as this has been a difficult period for her.

"We wish to reiterate the apologies already extended for the distress and discomfort that she has experienced."

Ms Pillars, of law firm Irwin Mitchell, says they plan to pursue a medical negligence claim against the trust.

They are also seeking a full explanation for what went wrong, as well as compensation for Miss Lumley's pain and suffering.