'Scandalous' ward midwife shortages

[Supreme]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8408794.stm

A coroner has branded midwife shortages at a hospital where a newborn baby girl died as "nothing short of scandalous".

An inquest heard Ebony McCall's mother, Amanda arrived at Milton Keynes General Hospital in pain and wanted a caesarean section, but was told it was too risky.

Ebony was later born with only a faint heartbeat and she died soon after.

In a narrative verdict, deputy coroner for Milton Keynes Thomas Osborne said "systems failures" and overstretched staff contributed to her death in May.

Mr Osborne said it was "surprising" Miss McCall, from Milton Keynes, was not seen by her consultant until the day before she was admitted to hospital.

He said: "The situation on the labour ward became what has been described to me as 'chaotic' with far too many mums and not enough midwives."

This is shocking. This hospital has had three young children die in its wards over the years. Jobs need to be lost over such a disaster, but I fear they're short staffed enough as it is.