A mother has initiated a negligence claim against NHS Lothian, alleging a failure to respond to critical warning signs before her baby’s emergency delivery at St John’s Hospital in August 2022. The claim contends that repeated concerns raised by Caitlyn Pratt were dismissed in the hours leading up to her daughter Lacie’s birth, which resulted in a catastrophic brain injury.
Lacie was born on 3 August 2022. She was subsequently diagnosed with Grade 3 hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), the most severe classification of brain injury resulting from oxygen deprivation, which followed a placental abruption. The child passed away on 22 August 2024, shortly after her second birthday.
Ms Pratt was 37 weeks and two days pregnant when she began experiencing severe abdominal pain and nausea on the morning of 3 August 2022. Having previously given birth, she stated she recognised the pain was not indicative of labour.
“I couldn’t get up and I was really worried,” Ms Pratt said.
She recounted phoning her mother to inform her that she was unable to move from her kitchen floor. When her mother arrived, Ms Pratt had been sick.
“At that point, I was in agony and the pains I was getting in my stomach were unreal,” she added.
Her mother then contacted the maternity ward at St John’s Hospital, and Ms Pratt was advised to attend for assessment. Upon arrival, she reported experiencing numbness in her arm and tongue.
“By the time I got to the hospital I had no feeling in my right hand and arm. My tongue felt numb and it was swelling. As soon as I got in, I told the midwife about my pains and the numbness and she seemed to dismiss that,” Ms Pratt stated.
After approximately an hour of monitoring, Ms Pratt claims she was informed everything appeared “fine” and that she could return home.
“I knew these pains I was suffering weren’t normal and I shouldn’t be having them,” she said, adding: “They were two very young midwives and I feel that they didn’t know what to do with me.”
Ms Pratt repeatedly insisted that something was wrong. She eventually secured a review of her case by a senior midwife. Following this, her waters were broken, and she immediately noticed blood.
“As soon as I saw the blood I immediately thought she needed to come out of me now. I was told it was okay and that happens but I knew this was a bad sign,” she explained.
She further stated, “They managed to convince me this was fine even although I knew after having a child before that this is not how it should look.” Over the subsequent four hours, she received pain relief, anti-sickness medication, and an injection intended to slow contractions.
This individual case comes amid broader scrutiny of maternity services across Scotland. Recent investigations have highlighted that nearly £100 million has been paid out by NHS Scotland in maternity negligence claims over the past five years. Obstetric cases frequently represent some of the most serious and financially impactful claims faced by the national health service.
The substantial sum paid out underscores the critical importance of strong care within maternity units. Ensuring patient safety and timely intervention in high-risk situations remains a paramount concern for health boards across the country, affecting numerous families.
Discussions around improving patient care and accountability in healthcare settings are ongoing. For instance, the Scottish Review has previously covered topics such as challenges in public health initiatives and the vital role of charitable organisations like those supported by community donations.
The legal proceedings initiated by Ms Pratt seek to address the alleged shortcomings in care she experienced at St John’s Hospital. NHS Lothian has not yet publicly commented on the specifics of the ongoing negligence claim.
