New mother calls for change after being driven 40 miles to give birth because flagship Glasgow hospital had no ICU incubators free

New mother Gemma Robertson with her son, Carter, and partner, Connor Cairney

A patient was driven 40 miles to give birth after there were no intensive care incubators available for her at a flagship city hospital.

Gemma Robertson’s baby was at risk after her waters broke at 28 weeks into pregnancy.

Doctors managed to keep her baby boy alive in her womb until 33 weeks into pregnancy, but when she was admitted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital maternity unit to be induced she says staff told her there was no room in the labour suite.

Gemma, 20, a customer care adviser, from Pollok, Glasgow, said: “When a labour ward place became available, I was then told there was no ICU cot. I was then told I was being driven to St John’s maternity in Livingston to give birth. Our baby, Carter, was eventually born three days later by caesarean section.”

But Carter suddenly went blue during his first feed, and was admitted to intensive care (ICU) with sepsis and breathing problems.

Gemma said being so far from home made the anxiety of this all the more difficult. She added: “Most mums having babies in Covid know the isolation of attending scans and treatment on their own but being 40 miles from home with a very ill newborn made it more distressing.”

When Gemma woke from the general anaesthetic, she was told her baby was in ICU. “I eventually saw Carter 16 hours later. I was in a post natal ward, surrounded by mums and their babies while I was separated from mine. I pleaded to be transferred to a side room but it never happened.”

Gemma says that her distress worsened when St John’s Hospital staff told her they were trying to transfer Carter back to QEUH. “I was informed it was costing St John’s more than £1,000 a day to keep him in ICU and that they would have to get that money from my own health board, Greater Glasgow.

“I felt very anxious about Carter being transferred while so seriously ill and premature.

“We did not ask to go to St John’s and it seemed risky to transfer our baby once he was in ICU. Fortunately, they could not find an ICU place back at the QEUH and Carter stayed at St John’s until he was well enough to go home at 10 days old.”

Gemma said partner Connor had to make his own way to Livingston and book into a hotel at £75 a night. “Connor and I got a family room at St John’s after four days’ hotel bills.”

The young mum is now campaigning for more compassionate treatment of mums during Covid.

Katy Ruggeri, acting chief midwife, NHS Lothian said: “Ms Robertson was advised that in instances where care has been provided in a different hospital or area than the original booking hospital, it is both normal and standard practice that babies are transferred once a bed within that hospital becomes available. At no point do we believe that discussions about the cost of care would have taken place, not least because the arrangements described do not exist and the costs are not correct.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde apologised for not being able to accommodate the family but said: “We recognise the challenges associated with the Covid pandemic for women, their partners and their babies during this time and are working hard to support them.”