Mother devastated after hospital receptionist hands her envelope containing body parts of her stillborn baby boy

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated:

A grieving mother has won damages after blundering hospital workers handed her parts of her stillborn baby in an envelope.

Danielle Tivey, 27, of Canvey Island, Essex, was left with deep psychological scars after the ‘appalling blunder’.

Miss Tivey's son Tommy was stillborn when she gave birth to his healthy twin Alfy at Southend Hospital.

Grieving: Danielle Tibey, pictured with her partner George and other son Alfy, won damages from Southend Hospital in Essex

Grieving: Danielle Tibey, pictured with her partner George and other son Alfy (who is the twin of her stillborn), won damages from Southend Hospital in Essex

But the devastated mother had to fight for eight months before the hospital finally released Tommy's remains after staff lost forms indicating that Miss Tivey wished to have a funeral for the baby.

When the remains were finally released, a hospital receptionist simply handed a horrified Miss Tivey a brown envelope containing skin and tissue samples contained in six wax blocks.

Distraught Miss Tivey claimed she was physically sick and the episode left her suffering nightmares and also affected her relationship with her partner, George.

She has now been awarded substantial damages after the ordeal left her with deep psychological scars.

Hospital bosses have also issued a full apology.

Miss Tivey said in a statement: ‘I can't believe anybody could be so unfeeling as to behave in this way, let alone the NHS, which we turned to because it is supposed to be caring.’

James Sherwin, a medical negligence specialist with Attwaters solicitors, handled the case.

He said: ‘This demonstrates quite appalling incompetence and insensitivity by the hospital.

Compensation: Danielle Tivey has won damages after staff at Southend Hospital, Essex, left her with psychological scars

Compensation: Danielle Tivey has won damages after staff at Southend Hospital, Essex,(pictured) left her with psychological scars

‘The hospital claims documentation that would normally be expected to be in place was not completed by staff, so there was no subsequent discussion with Danielle about her wishes.

‘They had also lost the documentation relating to Danielle's wishes to keep the baby.

‘But above all, and having realised what had happened, to present a grieving mother with some cross sections of her dead child in a buff envelope in the middle of the hospital reception was completely insensitive.’

Miss Tivey had been told of Tommy's death during a routine ultrasound about a month before she was due to give birth.

She informed doctors of her wish that his remains be returned to her after the birth in January 2007 so he could be given a funeral.

A statement from Southend Hospital said: ‘Southend Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has apologised to the family for the insensitive management of their bereavement in 2007.

‘An unconditional formal apology was made in August 2010 by former chief executive John Gilham and a compensation agreement was agreed in January 2011.

‘In 2007, the trust first apologised to a mother for the breakdown in communications and shortfall in care provided to her during her bereavement for her stillborn baby.’

Hospital bosses say they have since overhauled bereavement services, information processes and counselling.

Southend Hospital refused to explain exactly how the incident occurred..

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