A new mother developed sepsis and required emergency surgery for a perforated bowel after a scan error, a hospital trust has admitted. Natalie, 37, underwent a caesarean section at Birmingham's Good Hope Hospital on 11 January 2023.
Days after the birth, she experienced severe abdominal pain, swelling, and vomiting. On 14 January, doctors reportedly misinterpreted a scan as showing only a temporary slowing of her bowel's movements.
Her condition worsened, leading to sepsis, and on 18 January, she had emergency surgery to remove part of her bowel and fit a stoma. University Hospitals Birmingham Trust has since admitted a breach of duty, acknowledging that a CT scan was incorrectly reported and that decisions about Natalie's care were based on this error.
Natalie has undergone further surgery, including stoma reversal and treatment for complications. She is now campaigning for better postnatal care for women and for their concerns to be taken seriously after childbirth.