After losing Olivia, how can I trust any doctor? EXCLUSIVE As a shock review finds that more than 70 children died last year due to NHS blunders, Andrea Harrison reveals how she lost her baby daughter, Olivia.

Byline: Jack McKay

After having two sons, expectant mum Andrea Harrison couldn't wait to cuddle her baby daughter for the first time.

But, tragically, little Olivia never even drew breath. Her life ended before it even had a chance to begin after a series of blunders leading up to her birth.

Worryingly, her case is not an isolated one.

A review of the safety of NHS care found that more than 70 children died due to lapses in care in 2007 - 2008, while 20,000 more suffered injury.

"These figures are shocking," says Andrea, 35, of Durham. "It's horrendous because you put your trust in doctors and hospitals. You trust their judgment and don't question it."

Andrea, who has an underac-tivthyroid, had suffered high blood pressure during her pregnancy but had been told that her baby girl was perfectly healthy.

In May 2004, she started having contractions and a midwife called at her home to monitor her and the baby.

"The midwife said the baby's heart rate was slightly high," recalls Andrea.

Despite these warning signs, Andrea was directed to nearby Bishop Auckland General Hospital in County Durham, even though it had recently been downgraded to being a midwifeled unit and was only equipped to deal with straightforward births.

Within an hour of arriving, a heart monitor revealed the baby was in distress and doctors advised the couple to go to Darlington Hospital, 12 miles away, where the maternity unit could deal with emergencies.

And worse, the worried couple had to drive themselves there.

"We were told there wasn't an ambulance free," recalls Andrea. "We couldn't believe it but, as no one at the hospital seemed concerned, we put our faith in their judgment and followed their instructions.

"I was handed my notes to give them to the doctors at the other hospital."As they set off in the car, Andrea's pain intensified. "It was like labour pains, only much worse, and I told Dean he would have to rush," she says. "But one of the main roads was closed and we were directed back towards home.

"I thought I was going to be on the news for giving birth in the car."

After 45 minutes, the couple arrived at Darlington Hospital, and Andrea told herself that her daughter would soon be in her arms.

But, as she handed her notes to the staff on the labour ward and was connected to a heart monitor, she was told her baby's heart rate had now dipped dangerously low.

"All the anticipation and excitement drained away," she says.

The doctors explained that the only option was to perform an emergency caesarean and Andrea was immediately taken into surgery.

"I was scared," says Andrea. "I had to be awake for the caesarean but the medical team put a screen up so I couldn't see what was going on. "I was crying and asking: 'what's happening, is everything alright?' but nobody was answering and I knew something was wrong."

"When I heard the surgeon say the placenta was present, I knew that meant Olivia was out and I waited desperately to hear the sound of a baby crying."

Sadly, she was stillborn. Her parents believe she probably died during the journey between hospitals and that the low heart rate had most likely been Andrea's heartbeat.

"As they were stitching me up I could hear them working on Olivia, trying to bring her back," says Andrea.

She and Dean faced an agonising wait as the medics worked on Olivia, trying desperately to bring her back to life. But, after 17 minutes, she was pronounced dead.

"When they finished, they cleaned her up and brought her over to us," says Andrea. "I'll never forget her. She was just perfect. She looked like she was sleeping. I was unable to do anything and Dean was pacing up and down hugging her and begging her to be alive."

For the next two days, the devastated parents slept at the hospital with Olivia in a Moses basket between them, while their young sons were at home being cared for by relatives.

Their grief was quickly consumed by anger as the couple realised someone was at fault for their baby's death.

"I knew something had gone wrong because all through my pregnancy I was repeatedly told that my daughter was healthy," she says. "Something had gone wrong at the last minute. They hadn't put me in an ambulance and they hadn't acted to give me a caesarean straightaway."

However, the hospital denied any wrongdoing, claiming instead Olivia had died of natural causes and that Andrea had been aware of the risks to her daughter when she'd first gone to Bishop Auckland General Hospital. The couple decided to launch legal action against County Durham and Darlington NHS Trusts. "It was never about the money," says Andrea. "When I found out that she would have lived had she been born in Bishop Auckland I was disgusted. They should've offered someone to come in the car with me." As the legal wrangle went on, the family struggled with their grief. "My son Alex, who was three, would ask: 'When will she be coming home, Mummy?'" says Andrea. "Every time we went to put flowers on the grave he would ask whether we were going to pick her up and bring her home.

"We had to avoid pregnant women because he'd ask: 'Is that baby going to go to sleep?' He thought it was normal to be pregnant and then bury the baby."

Alex's elder brother Elliot, then nine, dealt with his grief in a different way, becoming anxious and angry.

"He hated hospitals and doctors," says Andrea. "At school he wrote, 'I'm so frightened that if my mum has another baby it will die.'"

In time, though, Andrea and Dean decided to try for another baby and, three years after Olivia's death, they had Jennie - a healthy 7lb 11oz girl.

"When I first heard her cry there were tears of joy but other tears too - thinking this should have been us three years ago," says Andrea. Jennie, now three, has been told all about her sister and the family regularly talk about Olivia.

Sadly, Andrea and Dean's marriage buckled under the strain of their grief and the ongoing legal battle and they separated earlier this year.

They also finally received compensation after settling the case out of court.

"I felt vindicated but I can't say I'm happy," she says. "I'm still angry that they put us through all this. "I'll never see my daughter grow up or see what person she'd become and I must live with that.

"Jennie is a fantastic little girl and she's healed wounds for me but she's not a replacement. When people ask how many children I have, I always say four.

"Olivia would be five now and I'll never forget her."

The NHS apology

Stephen Eames, Chief Executive of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, wrote to Andrea saying: "I know how imperfect any words of mine will be in bringing you comfort following the very sad death of your daughter Olivia on May 10, 2004.

"I can and must however, albeit belatedly and inadequately, apologise to you both for the shortcoming in care that led to this tragic outcome.

"The Medical and Midwifery staff understand that this was and will still be a most painful time for you. We all express our deepest sympathies for the distress and anguish that we have caused you and your family.

"I hope that in time you'll be able to find some comfort that your loss has led to a careful review of our clinical procedures and protocol in the hope this will prevent others from suffering as you have. Once again I offer you the most sincere apologies of both myself and my staff."

The Trust added: "The Trust put in place a detailed action plan resulting from the review and the lessons learnt from this painful case and following these actions the Midwifery Led Unit has gone on, over the past five years, to deliver over 1,767 babies and during this time has not received any further complaints."

CAPTION(S):

MOVING ON: Andrea with her sons Alex, left, Elliot, right, and her daughter Jennie DEVASTATING: Andrea holding Olivia on the day she died