Maternity crisis cost my baby his life and others could die too, says mother

A woman whose baby died after she was turned away from her nearest maternity unit warned today that more lives could be lost as the NHS faces a crisis this summer.

Rachel Canter, 37, was in the late stages of labour and needed urgent attention but was forced to take a 20-minute detour from Barnet hospital. The maternity unit was so full staff had closed its doors to admissions.

Mrs Canter, from Welwyn, Hertfordshire, was diverted to Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield but her son Jake had breathing difficulties and died shortly after birth.

The fitness instructor, who has two children, said: "Jake could be with us today. He would be nearly four. Our treatment was a disgrace - a classic case of underfunding and understaffing. It's clear that since Jake was born not much has changed."

Midwives have issued a warning over pressures facing London maternity units. They say hospitals are already bursting at the seams with some closing to new maternity cases several times a week to cope.

The Royal College of Midwives is working with the capital's health chiefs to improve care and reduce "escalations" - when units have to close.

Pat Gould, RCM team manager for London, said: "On average, we are seeing trusts using their escalation policy, where they can't admit any more women, once a month."

Midwives say some hospitals are closing to new maternity cases several times a week.

Barnet's unit closes three times a week but this does not show up on official records as women are transferred to Chase Farm, which is part of the same trust.

Trust managers plan to cut the number of maternity consultants as services merge.

Barnet and Chase Farm NHS trust, which runs the two hospitals, said the safety of mothers and their babies was its priority.

A spokeswoman said: "Women and their babies can now be treated throughout the transfer in specialist neonatal ambulances."

Mrs Canter and husband Andrew, 41, have set up the National Maternity Support Foundation to raise awareness of closures and cutbacks.