A father stepped in to deliver his newborn when a midwife abruptly left the room at John Radcliffe Hospital Women’s Centre in Oxford. Cleo Gray was born with the umbilical cord around her neck, prompting her dad, Matt, a former ambulance technician, to take charge on February 21.
After a high-risk delivery, Matt managed to safely unwrap the cord from Cleo’s neck, as reported by the Sun. Upon staff’s return, they found Matt’s wife, Jo, holding their newborn. Jo expressed her fear, stating, “It is terrifying. It could have gone so wrong.”
Jo and Matt, expecting a quick labor, encountered a challenging situation due to Jo’s medical conditions. The Oxford University Hospitals Trust issued an apology to the family for the incident.
Jo, who arrived at the hospital two weeks early in labor, recounted a positive start with a cheerful midwife who later left for another task, leaving a less experienced replacement. Jo described the subsequent care as lacking communication and reassurance, leading to a chaotic delivery process.
Amid escalating concerns, the midwife abruptly left the room twice, leaving Jo and Matt to handle the delivery themselves. Matt donned gloves and successfully assisted in Cleo’s birth, despite the challenging circumstances. The couple faced difficulties in reaching help due to an inaccessible call button.
Following the distressing experience, Jo and Matt filed a formal complaint with the hospital and the Care Quality Commission. The hospital assured a thorough investigation into the matter and pledged transparency in sharing the findings with the concerned couple.
The OUH maternity unit, including John Radcliffe Hospital, is under scrutiny as part of the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, revealing underlying issues in NHS maternity care. An interim report highlighted systemic failures impacting the care of women, babies, families, and staff.