Devon clinical negligence lawyer, Oliver Thorne, is continuing to campaign for improved maternity services following a medical mistake that has left another family devastated.
We deal with medical negligence cases nationwide. Contact us for a free consultation and details of our fully funded no win, no fee scheme. Call 0333 888 0404 or send details of your case to us at [email protected].
The BBC has reported on the story of Megan and her daughter Remi who has been diagnosed with epilepsy and cerebral palsy after an error was made during her birth at North Devon District Hospital.
Megan had been struggling with fluctuating blood pressure and expected to undergo a controlled Caesarean section. What unfolded instead was a tragedy that would alter her life forever.
While receiving care, Megan was mistakenly administered an oxytocin drip—used to induce labour—instead of a saline solution. Within minutes, she realised something was wrong.
She told the BBC, “The only thoughts running through my mind were that I’d seen Remi’s heart rate drop so, so low, and I was in excruciating pain. I remember turning to my partner, Cameron, and telling him, ‘I don’t think I’m going to make it out.’”
The error caused a placental abruption, leading to an emergency Caesarean. Remi, was born with a brain injury due to oxygen deprivation.
Megan consulted Devon Medical negligence lawyer Oliver (who has long campaigned for improved maternity services) and the hospital subsequently admitted legal responsibility for the mistake. A Health and Safety Investigation Branch report found that the oxytocin infusion had been left unattended in the operating theatre during an emergency, leading to its accidental use. The hospital staff had overridden the electronic medication system to administer it.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust issued an apology, stating it was “truly sorry” for the failings that Megan, Remi, and their loved ones experienced. “We have accepted that we could and should have done better for them and we are working with them and their legal team to agree compensation to support Remi in the future.”
The BBC article explains how Megan’s experience sheds light on broader concerns about maternity care in England. A Care Quality Commission (CQC) review of 131 NHS maternity units revealed systemic challenges, including staffing shortages, outdated equipment, and lapses in safety protocols. Alarmingly, nearly two-thirds of the units were rated as “inadequate” or “requiring improvement” in safety.
North Devon District Hospital, where Megan gave birth, has faced repeated scrutiny and CQC inspections have consistently rated it as “requiring improvement.” Despite promises of reform, progress has been slow, with other Devon maternity units facing similar ratings.
Megan chose to share her story in the hope that it will spark change. She told the BBC:
“For something so tragic to go wrong — and I’m not the only one that’s gone through something like this — what’s it going to take to make a change?”
Megan’s voice, along with others, is a poignant reminder that behind every statistic is a family whose life has been irreversibly altered. The hope is that their stories will inspire meaningful improvements in maternity care, ensuring no other family has to endure the same heartbreak.
If you have experienced inadequate maternity care and wish to know what your legal position is then contact Devon clinical negligence lawyer, Oliver Thorne, for a free consultation.
