Hospital blunder kills IVF mum

An inquest heard that Joanne Lockham suffered  a heart attack and brain damage after it was claimed she was starved of oxygen during an emergency Caesarean section.

The 45-year-old nurse never got to see her baby as she died two days later in the hospital where she worked. Her husband is now caring for their son alone at their home in Wendover, Bucks.

The inquest, in Buckinghamshire heard that she was admitted to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to be induced in October 2007. The medical team gave Mrs Lockham an anaesthetic because of a prolonged delivery and it was following this that she developed breathing problems.

The panel heard that anaesthetists tried to insert an oxygen tube into her three times before they finally believed they were successful. But, minutes after the birth, she had a heart attack.

Dr C. Prasad, an anaesthetist, became emotional in the witness box as he told how he repeatedly tried to insert the tube but it appeared to be faulty.

He said: “I was doing my job, but I was in a complete state of shock. I couldn’t think...” Jacqueline Hall, a consultant, said she did not anticipate any complications when she advised the Caesarean.

The post-mortem investigation found that Joanne Lockham died from a lack of oxygen to the brain resulting in cardio-respiratory arrest. The hearing continues.

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