England footballer praises NHS for saving his baby

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Fulham player Paul Konchesky and his wife Lyndsey praised the care they and their daughter Tilly-Mai received after she arrived a month early.

The 28-year-old, who has played for England, and his wife had planned to have their first child at a private clinic in central London.

But when Mrs Konchesky, 26, went into labour early, on 9 July, she was taken from their home in Ongar to Queen's Hospital, Romford. Midwives discovered the baby was in the potentially dangerous breech position.

Tilly-Mai, who was born weighing only 4lbs 14oz, spent four days in intensive care. She was allowed home on 14 July and is now blossoming.

Konchesky, who has a seven-year-old son, Connor, from a previous relationship, said of the hospital: "They were superb from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. I can't thank the midwives enough for what they did for my wife and baby girl — they were all stars." His wife, a hairdresser, added: "I'd heard some horror stories about it so I was really worried and I was crying on the way there.

"But from the moment I got there we got the best service I could ever have hoped for — it was A1. If we ever have another baby I wouldn't go anywhere else. I would never go private, I'd go straight back there."

A Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: "Paul and Lyndsey are a lovely couple who were treated like any other."