healthmedicinet

2 April 2014
Last updated at 07:51

Erin McAuley died in Antrim Area Hospital in 2008

The parents of a baby, who died in hospital because there was no theatre for an emergency caesarean section, have still not received an apology.

Erin McAuley’s death in May 2008 is one of 20 cases where the Northern Trust has admitted its response was below standard.

Eleven deaths – five of which were babies – are under investigation.

Erin’s father, Chris, said they did not want their daughter’s death to be forgotten about.

“We want as parents, as human beings, to seek the truth of what really happened,” he said

“Procedures from investigations should be known. The truth is all we ever wanted about our daughter and we never got it until we went looking for it.”

Mr McAuley told BBC Radio Ulster that his wife, Louise, went into labour in the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, while they were waiting for an operating theatre.

“Louise eventually had to deliver while still waiting for theatre. She was in serious, serious pain. Subsequently, Erin got into great difficulty at birth and my wife was seriously injured as well,” he said.

Neo-natal

“Erin was born in a very bad state. It was just unbelievable. The shock on the staff’s face was easy to see and I knew it was going to be a very hard thing to come through.”

The baby girl was rushed by ambulance to the neo-natal unit at Antrim Area Hospital, as her father followed behind in his car.

“I had to leave my wife in Coleraine and stay with our daughter. This was very tough to do as a husband and as a father.

“The drive from Coleraine to Antrim was one I will never forget. What was I going to do if I lost my daughter and wife, how I would cope? It was a bad place to be. I knew arriving at Antrim that the chances were slim of Erin coming out of this.”

Erin’s health deteriorated and her mother was brought to the hospital for her daughter’s final hours.

Mr McAuley said: “Louise was never told why Erin was taken to Antrim, only that she was sick. The truth should have been transparent even at that stage.”

Last month, the health minister told the Northern Ireland Assembly that he had been made aware of 20 cases in which the trust’s response was said to be below standard.

The patients had been seen in the emergency, obstetrics, gynaecology or X-ray departments.

It was not clear whether the deaths were avoidable. Health Minister Edwin Poots said the trust’s response should have been better.