Surrey boy diagnosed with cerebral palsy following maternity care delays

A mum whose baby was left severely brain damaged following delays during labour is campaigning for urgent improvements to maternity safety.

Concerns were raised about Cobie Miles’ heart rate while his mum, Shanine Skilton-Cole, was in labour at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill. However, there was a 30-minute delay in calling for a third specialist obstetric review. When the review took place, an emergency caesarean was ordered.

Cobie diagnosed with cerebral palsy following delivery delay

Cobie, who had been starved of oxygen, was born in a poor condition and required resuscitation. It is believed he suffered a placental abruption – a serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from the womb wall.

He spent the first 84 days of his life in hospital and was later re-admitted, remaining an inpatient until he was 10-months-old.

Cobie has since been diagnosed with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Now three-years-old, he cannot walk or talk, has unsafe swallow and consequently is tube fed. Cobie has a history of seizures and requires lifelong care.

Mum Shanine asks medical negligence lawyers for help

Shanine, of Reigate, Surrey, instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the family’s care and help her son access the specialist care, support and therapies he requires.

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs East Surrey Hospital, admitted a breach of duty. It admitted an obstetric review should have been asked for half an hour earlier than it was and Cobie should have born delivered 17 minutes earlier.

Shanine, aged 26, has now spoken for the first time about the impact maternity care failings have had on her family and in calling for improvements to be made nationally.

It comes after research commissioned by Irwin Mitchell found a quarter of mums are not confident in the safety and quality of their local maternity services. The poll of 1,145 adults in England and Wales carried out by YouGov, found that 53 per cent of respondents had reported experiencing maternity care complications that led to extra support being needed.

Shanine reveals impact of birth injury

Shanine said: “During labour I knew something wasn’t right. I was scared and didn’t feel listened to or reassured - I just wanted someone to take my concerns seriously.

 

“When Cobie was born he didn’t cry, and I was terrified. I was left not knowing what was happening. All I could say, over and over, was ‘Don’t let my baby die.’

 

“The months that followed were relentless. It was emotionally exhausting. Cobie spent much of his first year in hospital and our family felt torn apart during this time.

 

“Now we live with the reality of what can happen following maternity care failings. Cobie can’t hold his head up, he can’t swallow, he’s tube fed, he has had seizures and needs constant care. I used to say I wished one of my children could stay a baby forever, but this is not what I meant. This is not what I wanted. This isn’t the life I hoped for my son.”

Medical negligence: Cobie Miles' story

Shanine, who has two other sons, Beau and Arlo, aged eight and five, was admitted to hospital at 38 weeks pregnant on 17 July, 2022.

She was transferred to the delivery suite just after 8am the following morning after her waters broke.

Shanine underwent two obstetric reviews that morning after monitoring showed reductions in Cobie’s heartrate.

After further concerns about Cobie’s heart rate were highlighted at around 1pm, staff should have called for a further obstetric review at 1.05pm. However, this was not requested until 1.35pm.

Following the third review, Shanine was taken to theatre and Cobie delivered at 2.07pm.

During legal submissions by Irwin Mitchell, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, admitted a breach of duty. It admitted obstetric assistance should have been sought by 1.05pm and had that been done, Cobie would have been delivered by caesarean section by 1.50pm.

Irwin Mitchell and the Trust are now working to secure a settlement to fund Cobie’s life-long needs.

YouGov survey reveals maternity care concerns 

Meanwhile, a total of 27 per cent of respondents to the Irwin Mitchell commissioned YouGov survey believed maternity services were declining, compared to 22 per cent who thought they were improving.

Just over a third of respondents – 35 per cent - said they did not know how complain or ask for extra help if something went wrong with their maternity care.

Shanine added: “Despite everything that we’ve gone through I’m blessed that Cobie is my son. However, it remains incredibly difficult not to think that when Cobie needed help the most, he was badly let down by those who should have looked after him.

 

“Since Cobie’s diagnosis my focus has been on trying securing answers for him and trying to provide him with the best life possible.

 

“Sadly, what happened to our family isn’t an isolated incident and you see and read too many stories about maternity care issues. No family want to find themselves in the position we have but the least they deserve is for their voices to be heard.”

Richard Kayser is the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, supporting Shanine and Cobie.

Cobie's story highlights devastating impact of maternity care failings

He said: “Nothing signifies the human cost and devastation that families are left to face following maternity care failings more than Cobie’s story.

 

“Every second counts when delivering babies in distress. Cobie’s case is yet another example of the need for meaningful action to improve maternity services across the country.”