A young mother who developed complications during a home birth died after a midwife lacked the confidence to inject her with fluids, an inquest was told.

There was also a delay in giving Joanne Whale treatment that could have saved her life in hospital after another midwife failed to pass on information to the doctors there.

Dr Peter Dean, the Greater Suffolk Coroner, said that lessons must be learnt from her death and that women should be made more aware of the dangers of home births. He also demanded better communication between midwives and doctors.

Miss Whale, 23, gave birth to a healthy boy at home in Ipswich last September. But she died hours later after a severe haemorrhage.

When Ms Whale began to lose blood she needed an injection of fluids. Julie Bates, a midwife, said that she had been trained in the process but had never had to use it. “I’ve got the theoretical knowledge but not the practical knowledge,” she said. “I felt uncomfortable having to do that in this situation.” She added: “Knowing the ambulance was only a few minutes away I thought it was better to leave it for the proper paramedics.”

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3934513.ece

We have been debating this on the student site - whats your view?