A mother who was tragically sent home from hospital while experiencing bleeding, only to later suffer a stillbirth, has been awarded £130,000 in damages following a protracted legal battle over medical negligence. Alex Barr, 37, was 42 weeks pregnant and scheduled for an induction on the evening of April 20, 2020, but visited Poole Hospital that morning with an elevated heart rate and bleeding.
Dismissed Concerns and Devastating Outcome
Midwives at the hospital dismissed Alex's urgent concerns and sent her home, instructing her to wait for her scheduled induction. However, within ten minutes of the car journey home, she began experiencing severe contraction-like pains, and by the time she arrived, she was haemorrhaging heavily. Despite being rushed back to hospital by ambulance, her daughter Marnie's heartbeat could not be detected, and she was pronounced dead at 2:30 pm. Marnie was stillborn 19 hours later at 9:55 am on April 21, 2020.
A Fight for Accountability and Justice
Alex and her husband Steve, from Christchurch, believe that had she remained in hospital, Marnie's heart abnormalities would likely have been identified, and on the balance of probabilities, she would have survived. After a lengthy legal battle, University Hospitals Dorset has paid them £130,000 in compensation, although the trust admitted no fault. The couple emphasises that their pursuit was never about the money, as no amount could replace their daughter or mend their shattered lives.
Alex, a specialist renal nurse, stated: 'We wanted, and still want, accountability. We wanted to know that the Trust recognised its failings and had taken concrete steps to ensure no other family would suffer as we have.' She added that the entire legal process felt dehumanising, and she has not achieved the justice she sought.
Background of a High-Risk Pregnancy
Alex's pregnancy had already been fraught with anxiety. She suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme morning sickness condition, throughout the term. Additionally, she required extra scans when Marnie's growth slowed down in the third trimester. As her due date approached, Alex inquired about induction but was told there was no reason she could not have a normal birth. Eventually, she was booked for an induction 12 days past her due date.
The Fateful Hospital Visit
On the morning of the induction, Alex began leaking fluid and went to Poole Hospital. After only 20 minutes of monitoring, a midwife cleared her to go home and wait for her 9 pm induction, despite Alex showing them bright-red blood. The midwife dismissed this as her 'show', a plug of mucus sometimes tinged with blood close to labour. Alex recalled: 'I was really panicked seeing blood at the end of my pregnancy. I felt like they were washing their hands of me.'
Legal Investigation and Systemic Concerns
A legal investigation conducted by Alex and Steve's lawyers, Enable Law, identified nine areas of alleged negligence. University Hospitals Dorset denies any wrongdoing, including claims of fresh bleeding and the need for escalation or immediate induction. The couple requested to meet with the hospital trust during the legal proceedings but were denied.
Jennifer Janes, a lawyer at Enable Law, supported Alex and Steve through the process and obtained independent medical advice on Alex's care, which concluded in Marnie's death. She said: 'We remain seriously concerned that problems in maternity care are cultural and systemic, and this is often reflected in the findings of independent investigations. Sadly, we expect the findings at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust to be the same. We hope this leads to meaningful change, improving patient safety and preventing families experiencing the same devastating loss as Alex and Steve.'
Hospital Response and Ongoing Advocacy
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Dorset stated: 'We are very sorry for Alex and Steven Barr following the loss of their daughter Marnie. We reviewed their case thoroughly, and always make improvements from any recommendations or learning we find. We also have a dedicated education team who provide training throughout the year for our colleagues.'
Despite the compensation, Alex and Steve continue to fight for justice and systemic change to prevent other families from enduring similar agony. Alex reflected on the weeks before Marnie's death, when she asked about the risks of stillbirth and the possibility of early induction, a memory that still haunts her today.
