The Newshound

Midwife who put 'gone for a break' sign on colleague while bleeding mum waited 37 minutes is struck off after baby died

A pregnant woman. A tribunal found Denise Williams built her pregnancy discrimination claim knowing she was not pregnant when sacked on 16 November 2023, conceiving only after her dismissal.
A pregnant woman. A tribunal found Denise Williams built her pregnancy discrimination claim knowing she was not pregnant when sacked on 16 November 2023, conceiving only after her dismissal.
Kings Mill Hospital, where a coroner ruled that neglect contributed to a baby's death after a bleeding first-time mother was left unassessed for 37 minutes with no other patients waiting in triage.
Kings Mill Hospital, where a coroner ruled that neglect contributed to a baby's death after a bleeding first-time mother was left unassessed for 37 minutes with no other patients waiting in triage.

Kathryn Laura Duignan, the most senior midwife on duty at Kings Mill Hospital's triage unit, has been struck off after a first-time mother, 41 weeks pregnant and bleeding heavily, was left unassessed for 37 minutes while her family shouted for help. With no other patients in triage, Duignan instead stuck a handwritten 'gone for a break, back in 30' sign on a colleague at the desk.

Coroner ruled neglect contributed, finding the baby would on balance have survived if delivered by 1:35am.

'I can't help but feel that they chose to ignore it,' said the patient's mother.

Hospital protocol demanded triage within 15 minutes; the panel said no good reason was ever advanced.

Morethenewshound.comMidwife who put 'gone for a break' sign on colleague while bleeding mum waited 37 minutes is struck off after baby died
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →