Woman in labour was turned away from maternity unit which caused her baby boy to die

A baby boy died after his mother was denied care at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital when she was turned away from the maternity unit. 

An inquest was told, the baby died because his mother was turned away in labour because there was not enough beds. Archie Batten’s mother was denied care at the hospital in Kent and told to drive 38 miles to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

The mother returned home and started to give birth alongside midwives, however according to the lawyers they offered ‘poor quality of care’.

Sadly baby Archie died shortly after birth on September 1st.

The family’s lawyer Nick Fairweather said: ‘At 2.35pm, when she was turned away from hospital she was told she could access services at any time if needed.

‘On her return at 4.50pm, he said she was told the hospital was in shutdown. She should never have been sent away in the first place.

He also criticised the midwives and the quality of care provided to Archie’s mother at home, he said: ‘What they failed to do was so fundamental they were not providing a meaningful service at all.’