A HEARTBROKEN mum has told how her baby was left brain damaged after doctors waited half an hour before ordering an emergency C-section.
Shanine Skilton-Cole, from Reigate in Surrey, was rushed to hospital after going into labour early at 38 weeks.
Cobie Miles was left severely brain damaged following delays during labour Credit: SWNS
Pictured, Shanine Skilton-Cole, with her son Cobie Miles in hospital Credit: SWNS
But, the 26-year-old claimed that doctors soon raised concerns about her unborn son Cobie’s when she was admitted and ordered tests.
Yet, despite raising her concerns, it took 30 minutes before an emergency caesarean was ordered following a specialist obstetric at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.
Her son Cobie was then born weighing 7lbs 9oz on July 18, 2022, but needed resuscitating after being starved of oxygen.
It is believed he suffered a placental abruption – a serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from the womb wall, affecting oxygen supply.
Concerns were raised about Cobie’s heart rate while Shanine was in labour at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill Credit: SWNS
Pictured, Cobie Miles in hospital Credit: SWNS
Cobie, now three, has cerebral palsy which has left him unable to walk or talk and requiring round-the-clock care.
Recalling her heartbreaking ordeal, Shanine said: “During labour I knew something wasn’t right.
“I was scared and didn’t feel listened to or reassured – I just wanted someone to take my concerns seriously.
“When Cobie was born he didn’t cry, and I was terrified. I was left not knowing what was happening.
“All I could say, over and over, was ‘Don’t let my baby die.’”
Cobie spent the first 84 days of his life in hospital and was later re-admitted, remaining an inpatient until he was ten months-old.
Shanine added: “The months that followed were relentless. It was emotionally exhausting.
“Cobie spent much of his first year in hospital and our family felt torn apart during this time.
“Now we live with the reality of what can happen following maternity care failings.
“Cobie can’t hold his head up, he can’t swallow, he’s tube‑fed, he has had seizures and needs constant care.
“I used to say I wished one of my children could stay a baby forever, but this is not what I meant.
“This is not what I wanted. This isn’t the life I hoped for my son.”
Cobie, who had been starved of oxygen, was born and required resuscitation Credit: SWNS
It is believed Cobie suffered a placental abruption – a serious condition in which the placenta starts to come away from the womb wall Credit: SWNS
Shanine, who also has sons, Beau, eight and Arlo, five, hired medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell to investigate Cobie’s care.
They found that Shanine underwent two obstetric reviews after monitoring showed reductions in Cobie’s heart rate.
After further concerns about Cobie’s heart rate were highlighted at around 1pm, staff should have called for a further obstetric review at 1.05pm.
However, this was not requested until 1.35pm.
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust, which runs East Surrey Hospital, admitted a breach of duty.
The trust said an obstetric review should have been asked for earlier and Cobie should have born delivered 17 minutes earlier.
The Trust is now working with Shanine to secure a settlement to fund Cobie’s life-long needs.
Shanine added: “Despite everything that we’ve gone through I’m blessed that Cobie is my son.
“However, it remains incredibly difficult not to think that when Cobie needed help the most, he was badly let down by those who should have looked after him.
“Since Cobie’s diagnosis my focus has been on trying securing answers for him and trying to provide him with the best life possible.”
It comes after secretary last year announced a “rapid national ” into ‘s maternity units following a litany of scandals that have rocked the NHS.
These include harrowing baby death scandals in and Telford, East , Morecambe and Nottingham.
Speaking at Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists World Congress last year, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was launching an investigation into maternity care Credit: PA 'WORSE THAN EXPECTED'
In December Baroness Valerie Amos published a report of her first impressions after starting the investigation into England's maternity care.
She said it was clear that “extremely concerning” numbers of women get poor care and that some even on “basic care” like keeping wards clean.
Families whose die do not get enough kindness or support, the early report added.
The Labour peer said: “I knew that this would be challenging but what I have found so far has been much worse than I anticipated.
“I could not understand why, having read the media reports over the years of the experiences of harmed and bereaved families, so little seemed to have changed.”
In 2024, the maternity regulator also found that two-thirds of services either “require improvement” or are “inadequate” for safety.
Recent research commissioned by Irwin Mitchell also discovered that a quarter of mums are not confident in the safety and quality of maternity services.
The poll of 1,145 adults in and carried out by YouGov, found that 53 per cent of mums experienced maternity care complications that led to extra support being needed.
A total of 27 per cent of respondents believed maternity services were declining, compared to 22 per cent who thought they were improving.
Richard Kayser, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, supporting Shanine and Cobie, said: “Nothing signifies the human cost and devastation that families are left to face following maternity care failings more than Cobie’s story.
“Every second counts when delivering babies in distress. Cobie’s case is yet another example of the need for meaningful action to improve maternity services across the country.”
A spokesperson at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: “As a trust we work hard to ensure we deliver the safest possible care at all stages of pregnancy and are continuously looking at how we can improve our care.
“We would like to extend our deepest apologies to Cobie and his family for what happened.
“Due to the ongoing legal matter, we are unable to specifically comment on this individual case at this time.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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