A pad caught fire during caesarean and left me with this burn mark; Mum takes legal action over claim.

Byline: By SIMON WALTON 

A MUM is taking legal action against a hospital after allegedly suffering a severe burn to her thigh while giving birth by caesarean section.

Sarah Whelpton, 30, claims she may have been burnt by a diathermy pad as she gave birth to baby boy Leighton at the University Hospital of North Tees.

However, the Stockton mum-of-two says she has received no explanation or apology and is now taking action through the courts.

Hospital bosses today said they were still investigating the incident, which happened in September 2006.

During the caesarean section Sarah claims she heard a nurse say that she could smell something and that Sarah had been burnt, although she was under epidural anaesthesia at the time and did not feel anything.

She says she was later told she had suffered a burn from the diathermy pad which had caught fire as it was not being monitored while a nurse was changing a CD.

Diathermy pads channel an electric current to produce heat and are used to cut or destroy tissue or to produce coagulation.

Sarah's solicitor Joanne Dennison said details involving the pad are not recorded in her medical records.

Sarah says she suffered a wound on her right thigh which needed dressing throughout her time in hospital and repeated re-dressing after discharge.

Although the wound eventually healed she has been left with a scar which can only be improved by plastic surgery.

Sarah, a shop assistant who has another son Bradley, 10, said: "It's not the money I'm interested in. They haven't told me what happened and they haven't given me an apology.

"I have not had a reasonable explanation or an apology and that's what I wanted."

Sarah, of Reynoldston Avenue, Stockton, who had Leighton with partner Craig Sherlock, 30, said other hospital staff had suggested the wound might be a pressure sore, or even a tattoo which had been removed - something Sarah denies.

She added: "They are claiming it didn't occur in North Tees. They are saying it was done before the caesarean section or outside North Tees.

"I've got doctor's records to prove I didn't have anything on my leg beforehand. I'm extremely angry."

Sarah's solicitor Joanne Dennison, of Armstrong Foulkes, said court proceedings have now been issued and a defence is awaited.

She said: "Sarah and her family confirm there was no wound or scar on her right thigh before the birth, but the hospital do not accept blame.

"Following investigation into the allegations we believe this burn was caused by unacceptable treatment during the birth and we have therefore issued proceedings at Middlesbrough County Court."

A spokeswoman for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said the case was still being investigated.

CAPTION(S):

SCARRED: Sarah and her son Leighton, right; and the scar which remains on her thigh, above Pictures by PETER REIMANN