Birmingham couple lost baby due to NHS failings

A couple from Birmingham, Hazha and Bahroz Ghafoor, are heartbroken after their baby girl, Maily, was stillborn due to failings in NHS care. They had struggled with infertility and went through IVF before conceiving naturally. Maily was born still at Birmingham Women’s Hospital on September 27, 2023. Hazha, who is now pregnant again, expressed her grief, saying she can only cry at Maily's grave. She shared her fears for her own safety and her unborn child, feeling ignored during her pregnancy. Hazha, who is originally from Iraq and speaks limited English, needed translation support but was nearly left alone in the hospital. Bahroz fought to stay with her, believing he needed to ensure her voice was heard. Despite a history of complications in her previous pregnancies, Hazha’s concerns about her health and the baby’s movements were not taken seriously. Maily died from placental abruption, a condition that should have been recognized earlier. An investigation found serious failures in care, including staff not being properly trained and not understanding the urgency of Hazha’s situation. Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust has admitted that Maily could have survived with the correct care. The couple is now taking legal action to seek accountability and prevent similar tragedies. Their solicitor stated that this was an avoidable tragedy that highlighted systemic issues within the NHS maternity services. In response to the incident, the NHS Trust extended condolences to the family and noted changes made in staff training and communication for families with language barriers. They emphasized their commitment to improving maternity safety and addressing health inequalities.