Midwife breaks down at inquest (From This Is Wiltshire)

Midwife breaks down at inquest

8:17am Wednesday 9th January 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

MIDWIFE Jeanne Hutchins broke down in tears as she gave evidence at an inquest into the death of Swindon theatre nurse Mayra Cabrera.

The experienced nurse was the first witness to be cross-examined at the inquest held at Trowbridge Coroner's Court yesterday.

Speaking of the medical blunder that led to the 30-year-old's death at Swindon's Great Western Hospital, the senior nurse said her colleagues were only human Filipino-born Mayra, who lived in Liden, died after giving birth to baby Zac on May 11, 2004 when an epidural was wrongly administered through her right hand.

The drip bag containing powerful anaesthetic Bupivacaine should have been connected to a line into the epidural space between the third and fourth verterbrae in the spinal cord.

Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust later admitted liability for the error.

Speaking for Mayra's widower Arnel, barrister Gerwyn Samuels asked Ms Hutchins about the catalogue of safety checks midwives are required to carry out when setting up drips for patients.

He said: "So you're saying it is inconceivable that anyone could fail on these checks?"

She replied: "It's not inconceivable because we are only human - but these checks are designed to prevent confusion."

Sister Hutchins was not on duty when Mayra gave birth to her son but had stayed in the maternity suite to offer support to the first time mum.

Coroner David Masters made it clear that no-one was apportioning blame to the dedicated midwife.

Pure Bupivacaine is no longer used within hospital maternity units - instead a cocktail of Bupivacaine and Fentanyl is used to help women in labour ease their pain.

Asked if she would do anything differently if she could go back to the night of Mayra's death, a tearful sister Hutchins said: "My management of Mayra would be the same today."

Mayra had been given a successful epidural by Dr Michael Natarajan in the hours leading up to her death. The expectant mum had asked for the procedure as her birth pains worsened in the early hours of May 11.

In a statement read out at the inquest Dr Natarajan said he was surprised to see her as he recognised her as a theatre nurse at the hospital.

The epidural took well, with Dr Natarajan noting that there was no leak of blood or cerebral fluid from the needle in Mayra's back.

He said: "The patient called out to thank me for the good pain relief she was getting."

It was at 7.30am Mayra began vomiting violently.

At just after 9am she suffered a horrific seizure and staff recalled how she foamed at the mouth.

Dr Natarajan was called at home and told of Mayra's death.

He said: "Dr Maxwell called me to tell me that Mayra had tragically died."

The doctor recalled being asked what an intravenous dose of Bupivacaine would have on a patient.

He listed cardiac arrhythmia - also known as irregular heart beat - collapse and seizures as symptoms, adding: "The result is potentially fatal."

The hearing continues.