The 27-year-old says she went into labour at 23 weeks pregnant and was then left alone in the hospital before the machines keeping her baby alive were turned off.
A heartbroken mum has told how her premature baby died after she was left alone to give birth by herself at a scandal-hit NHS hospital.
Ashley Lamb lost little Lexie at three months old following delays in her ‘substandard’ care at two Nottingham hospitals which are at the centre of one of the largest maternity scandals in NHS history.
The 27-year-old says she went into labour at 23 weeks pregnant after developing an infection as a result of a procedure which was botched by a trainee doctor. Despite being classed as high-risk, she was left on the ward with a trainee midwife when she suddenly felt the need to push.
The rookie midwife ran off to get help – but by the time she returned traumatised Ashely had given birth to tiny Lexie, who weighed just 570 grams – little more than a bag of flour.
And when she complained about being left alone, Ashley said she was simply told: “Sometimes these things happen.” Lexie was rushed into neo-natal intensive care with brain damage and a perforated bowel.
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Despite multiple surgeries and Lexie having to be resuscitated several times, the decision was made to turn off the machines which were keeping her alive.
Ashley went on to launch a medical negligence claim against Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust over the level of care she received.
She has since settled her claim and received a payout but after the trust refused to admit liability, she says she is still without the answers she deserves. Ashley, of Newark, Notts., said: “I didn’t want to have to take legal action. But I felt I had no choice.
“They weren’t listening to my concerns about the care I had received, and they were disputing so much of what I remembered. I was desperate for someone to take it seriously.
“I’ve never had a proper apology. Just legal letters telling me I’m mistaken. That’s what’s been so hard — losing my baby and then being treated like I imagined it all.
“I just want people to listen. I want them to hear what it feels like when your baby dies, and then you’re told your memory of it all is wrong. My daughter mattered. This matters. If we keep quiet nothing will change and I want to speak out so that others don’t have to go through the same.”
Ashely had undergone a routine scan at King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield., Notts., in March 2021 which identified a possible heart defect at around 20 weeks.
However, there was then a “significant delay” in referring her to the Fetal Medicine Unit at Queen’s Medical Centre for an amniocentesis.
The test normally performed between 15 and 17 weeks’ gestation involves taking a small sample of amniotic fluid from the uterus using a needle – to detect any if the baby has any genetic conditions.
The procedure was eventually carried out at Nottingham City Hospital on April 12, 2021, when she was almost 23 weeks pregnant. During the procedure she said she was injected four times, because a rookie doctor was unable to get a suitable sample of amniotic fluid.
Ashley described the experience as “frightening and traumatic” and says she was not warned carrying out the procedure at almost 23 weeks could increase the risk of early labour.
Shortly after she developed an infection, went into labour and gave birth prematurely at Nottingham City Hospital on April 19. Lexie, sadly died at Queen’s Medical Centre on July 17, 2021. Ashley, who also has a seven-year-old daughter, added: “I didn’t have the best care right from the start.
“When I first fell pregnant I mentioned my other daughter had a heart condition, but a midwife wrote in her notes was the word syndrome with a question mark. I should have been referred from this point for an an amniocentesis which is usually undertaken at 11-17 weeks.
“However I was 23 weeks and it led to an infection which in turn was what caused my early labour. Hospital policy is that the needle shouldn’t go in more than two times – well it went in four times.
“It was a trainee doctor who went in three times without any joy at which point the supervising consultant took over. I didn’t want the procedure doing really but I was told it was important without being informed of the risks which were involved.
“I truly don’t feel that the risks were properly explained to me and and I don’t believe the right processes were followed. The risks I faced were far higher than they should have been. I was never told the procedure could involve four attempts with a needle.
“That’s not what informed consent looks like. Around six days later I went into labour and had the neo-natal intensive care team all in. But at the point where it came to giving birth I was left all by myself to deliver Lexie, which was terrifying.”
Her partner Jamie Ragsdale-Lowe, 29, was not there as he had gone home to feed their dog after the couple were told she was not yet close to giving birth.
“I was in the room with a trainee midwife, I believe it was a midwife, but she was definitely a trainee and I told her I needed to push,” Ashley recalled. I was screaming for help and she went off to find it but it was several minutes until anybody else entered the room and by then I had given birth.
“I didn’t no what to do, should I leave her on the bed, it was really frightening and then all of a sudden the room was full. We were told it would probably take ages for me to give birth so Jamie had gone home to let the dog out, so I all alone.
“She was taken into intensive care, she had severe brain bleeds and a bowel perforation, she couldn’t breathe on her own. I asked why I was left by myself in the room and the response I got was “sometimes these things happen”.
“I was told that if I had given birth full term than Lexie would have been healthy and survived. I believe it was a combination of both the amniocentesis and being left to give birth by myself, which may have contributed to her death.
“Brain damage can happen with premature babies but she had severe brain damage so it could have been a factor, the problem is the hospital have never given any straight answers.
“They disputed the needle went in four times, well I can safely say it did, they are telling me I’m not remembering it right – that I’m essentially lying.
“My partner Jamie was there and watched the procedure happen – he said they definitely went in four times. Also, I had four plasters covering the needle punctures.”
Following her loss, Ashley lodged a formal complaint with the Trust and attended several meetings to raise her concerns. However, she says she did not feel listened to and was left frustrated by what she describes as inconsistent information and a defensive response.
The Trust is currently under national scrutiny as part of the Ockenden Review, which is investigating longstanding concerns about maternity care. Ashley says she fears her case is part of a wider pattern of denial and doesn’t believe any meaningful learning has taken place.
She added: “If someone had truly learned from this — if better training was in place to guide how and when this procedure is carried out — then maybe some good could come from what happened.
“But the Trust isn’t listening, so I don’t have any faith that lessons have been learnt.” Ashley instructed Fletchers Solicitors to investigate the care she had received.
A legal claim was brought against Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, alleging a failure to provide timely referral to specialists, a failure to properly inform her of the risks associated with a late amniocentesis, and substandard performance of the procedure itself.
A consultant in obstetrics and feto-maternal medicine later acknowledged it was “not normal” to insert the needle four times during an amniocentesis, though “occasionally it can happen if it is difficult getting the needle tip into the amniotic cavity.”
The consultant also confirmed that making four attempts increased the risk of preterm labour. Ashley said with no admission of liability or a meaningful apology, she has been left feeling not only devastated but dismissed.
Francesca Paul, a solicitor at Fletchers Solicitors, who represented the family, said: “This is not only a tragic loss for a young mother, but a troubling case where the Trust’s response has left a grieving parent feeling unheard and discredited.
“Our investigations supported her concerns, including serious issues around the timing and conduct of the amniocentesis. But instead of engaging meaningfully, the Trust has chosen to challenge her memory of events — an approach that only compounds the trauma families like hers face.
“For our client, this was never about money. In cases involving the death of a baby, the compensation awarded is modest and symbolic. The settlement doesn’t reflect the impact of her loss, and it certainly isn’t why she brought this case. It was about accountability and answers — and sadly, she still doesn’t feel she’s had either.”
Tracy Pilcher, Chief Nurse at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Ashley and her family for the loss of their daughter.
“I would also like to apologise for her experiences surrounding her complaint and her not feeling listened to. We recognise the distress that this caused and for that we are very sorry. If she would like to meet with us again to address anything further we are more than happy to meet with her and her family.
“Although we cannot comment on the specifics of individual cases, we would like to reassure the family that we will be taking any learnings from the case forwards.
“We also recognise the importance and value of Ashley’s experience being part of the Independent Maternity Review (IMR) led by Donna Ockenden. We are thankful to those families, like Ashley’s, who have shared their experiences with us, and for the opportunity it gives us to learn from these experiences.
“We know there is much more for us to do, but we remain committed to improving our services so that we provide the high-quality maternity services that women and their families deserve.”
