The parents of a school girl who was born "blue and floppy" have instructed solicitors to investigate her care within maternity facilities. Eirwen Ansell was born nine days over her due date via emergency caesarean in 2010.
When she was born, she was "blue and floppy" and had to be resuscitated. It was discovered that she had breathed fluid into her lungs while she was in the womb. The family from Cwmbran have raised concerns about the maternity care that they received at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport.
Eirwen spent 11 days in hospital on a ventilator and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Now aged 13, her condition affects her mobility, speech and sight.
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Following her diagnosis Cath Ansell, 50, and husband Lee, 52, from Cwmbran, instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate their daughter’s care under Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and help her access the specialist lifetime therapies and support she’s expected to require.
Cath was admitted to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport in January 2010 when she was nine days over her due date. She learnt that her daughter was in the breech position and following a conversation with doctors, she agreed to a caesarean. Eirwen was born at 11.25pm on January, 23, 2010.
She spent 11 days in hospital on a ventilator and was also treated for suspected sepsis, where the body attacks itself in response to an infection. As Eirwen progressed, her parents became concerned with her development and she was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Cath said: “As soon as Eirwen was delivered I knew something wasn’t right. She was floppy and not crying. It felt like the doctors and other medical staff were working on her for an age, getting her to breathe. Those first few days of her life and seeing Eirwen on a ventilator were particularly hard. We were just hoping she would be okay and were so grateful she pulled through.
“When we got her home and as the months went by we instinctively knew that she wasn’t developing as we thought she should be. When we got the diagnosis of cerebral palsy, it was a real mix of emotions. Relief that it was recognised as something and not our imagination but also apprehension as to what it might mean for her and her future."
Eirwen, who attends Crownbridge School, uses a wheelchair on occasion. Her co-ordination and speech are severely affected. She finds it difficult to pronounce words of more than two syllables and is undergoing speech and language therapy sessions. She’s also partially sighted and has extremely poor peripheral vision.
Cath added: “While there have been difficult times over the last few years we’re so proud of Eirwen and the positivity she shows each day not to be defined by her condition.
“Taekwon-Do is a major part of her life. Not only does it help with Eirwen’s strength, she gets so much confidence from the sessions and has made some supportive friends. We know Eirwen will continue to face challenges throughout her life, but by sharing her story we hope we can help other families who may be going through a similar experience. Help and support is out there and means children like Eirwen are still able to lead a full and active life.”
Irwin and Mitchell are investigating the maternity care that Cath received. Kate Easy, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Cardiff office, representing the family, said: “Through our work we sadly see first-hand the life-long consequences families can be left to face following a birth injury. While she faces many challenges Eirwen shows great courage and determination not to be defined by her condition. She’s benefitted greatly from attending regular Taekwon-Do sessions
"While Cath and Lee understandably continue to have concerns about Eirwen’s maternity care which we’re supporting them with, Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month is a great way of highlighting how disability need not be a barrier and how people can flourish with help and support.”
A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: "It would be inappropriate to comment while legal proceedings are ongoing. Our very best wishes are with Eirwen and her family.”
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