Woman gives birth on pavement 'after being refused ambulance'



A young mother gave birth on a pavement outside a hospital after she was told to make her own way there.



Mother-of-three Carmen Blake called her midwife to ask for an ambulance when she went into labour unexpectedly with her fourth child.

But the 27-year-old claims she was refused an ambulance and told to walk the 100m from her house in Leicester to the city's nearby Royal Infirmary.

Helping hands: Carmen Blake with Mariah, who is also pictured with physiotherapist Helen Ivers, who was passing by and delivered the baby



Her daughter Mariah was delivered on a pavement outside the hospital by a passer-by, just before ambulance crews arrived.

Today the Trust that runs the hospital said it would look into any complaint made about the advice and care the 27-year-old received.

Ms Blake said she started going into labour at about 7.15am on Sunday, August 2.

She said: "I phoned up the Royal Infirmary, it's just across the road, and they said to go into a hot bath, and then to make my way over there.

Shock: Carmen Blake, with new baby Mariah and her older children Hennessy, six, (left) and Malachi, four, (right)

"I went into the bath and realised she was going to come quickly. I didn't think I'd be able to make it out of the bath, so I phoned the maternity ward back and told them to get an ambulance out.

'They said they were not sending an ambulance and told me I had had nine months to sort out a lift.'

Pavement: Baby Mariah was delivered on a pavement outside the hospital

Experienced mother Ms Blake today said she knew she had to get herself out of the bath and try to get to the hospital.

'The friends with me would have had no idea what to do. I knew at that point that she was nearly here so I had to get out of the house,' she said.

'I thought if I got across the road then at least somebody would be able to help me.

'I left the house and got to the end of the close, but there was no-one around to help.'

Eventually Ms Blake and her friends enlisted the help of a physiotherapist who happened to be passing on her way to work.

She dialled 999 and helped deliver baby Mariah while waiting for emergency services.

She even helped remove the cord from around the tot's neck, Ms Blake said today.

She said: 'I don't really remember much after that. Mariah was born, then the paramedics arrived then after that the midwives arrived. I think I went into shock.

'It's just lucky that the physio was there.'

Stranded: Carmen Blake claims she was forced to walk to Leicester Royal Infirmary despite being in labour

Ms Blake said despite the happy ending she was upset she was told to make her own way to the hospital as, being an experienced mum, she knew she did not have the time.

Today a spokeswoman for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said: 'We are disappointed that Ms Blake was not happy with the advice and care she received and will of course investigate any complaint.

'We are pleased that both Ms Blake and her daughter are well and healthy.'