Mum describes NHS maternity 'nightmare'

Esther Windsor, of Belsize Park, was separated from her baby for days after being told the little girl would "probably suffer brain damage".

She said she was not surprised by the new report, which criticised some maternity units for not having enough staff, beds, showers or lavatories.

The Healthcare Commission study found that in some hospitals, one bed is used for more than one birth in each 24-hour day, while women are also forced to share shower and bathrooms.

Sir Ian Kennedy, the commission's chairman, said: "There are no excuses. I don't want to be at the wrong end of another investigation report describing the deaths of babies or mothers. I have been there too many times.

"There's no reason we should see that any longer."

Ms Windsor gave birth to baby Lilly, who celebrated her first birthday last month, at a north London hospital. But serious complications meant Lilly had to be rushed to a nearby hospital for life saving treatment. To her horror, Ms Windsor was told Lilly could suffer brain damage and because of a bed shortage she could not accompany her sick baby.

"The whole thing from beginning to end was a nightmare," said Ms Windsor, who is currently studying for a PhD.

"After giving birth by emergency Caesarean section Lilly was rushed away. I did not see her for three days. I was told she would probably suffer brain damage but to this day I still have not been given a proper answer as to what exactly went wrong."

Lilly was finally given a clean bill of health and mother and baby were reunited. But Mrs Windsor said her experience showed the Healthcare Commission report represented the experience of many women.

She added: "The care Lilly received from the staff was fantastic - the care I got was awful. Today's report hardly comes as a surprise."

The study for the Healthcare Commission - the government's health watchdog - found some hospitals had staffing levels that were "well below" average.

Consultants did not always spend enough time on the wards, not all staff received adequate training and choice of where to give birth could be limited.

The large-scale review, of all maternity units in 150 NHS trusts in England, examined all aspects of maternity care.

It found that in the average trust each maternity bed was used for 0.7 births per day, but in some trusts each bed was used for 1.4 births per day.

The report concluded: "This seems excessive and there is clearly a need to increase the capacity of delivery beds in these units."