Inquest Hears Ambulance Should Have Been Called 90 Minutes Before Baby's Delivery in High-Risk Home Birth
A midwife broke down in tears at an inquest, stating that an ambulance should have been summoned nearly an hour and a half before a baby was delivered "blue and floppy" during a high-risk home birth. Poppy Hope Lomas tragically passed away at just seven days old on October 26, 2022, following severe complications from the delivery.
Critical Failures in Emergency Response
Midwife Sasha Field, who was present at the birth, revealed in a written statement read to Barnet Coroner's Court that emergency services should have been alerted around 90 minutes prior to Poppy's birth. This recommendation came after she detected a slowed fetal heart rate post-contraction, a finding later supported by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch report. In reality, midwives instructed Poppy's father, Jason Lomas, to call an ambulance at approximately 10:37 PM, merely two minutes after the birth, by which time the newborn showed no signs of life.
Mother Unaware of Risks in Home Birth
Gemma Lomas, Poppy's mother from Enfield, north London, testified that she was not adequately informed of the dangers associated with a vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) at home. She had previously delivered her first daughter, Willow, via Caesarean in 2018. Senior coroner Andrew Walker suggested that Ms. Lomas should never have been placed in a position to deliver at home without immediate access to hospital equipment and resources.
"There is an argument you shouldn't have been put in a position to deliver a high-risk birth without the necessary equipment available at hospital," Mr. Walker stated, addressing Ms. Field. "You did the best you could in the circumstances."
Guidelines Ignored in Home Birth Decision
According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), VBACs should only occur in a fully staffed and equipped delivery suite with resources ready for an immediate Caesarean if needed. Ms. Lomas claimed that Alice Boardman, head midwife at Edgware Midwives—the designated home birth team at Barnet Hospital—actively encouraged her to pursue a VBAC at home, despite the inherent risks.
Traumatic Aftermath and Delayed Response
Ms. Lomas described the harrowing moments after Poppy's birth, recalling how the midwife placed the baby on her chest, saying, "There's your baby." Poppy was blue and floppy, with blood emerging from her mouth, a memory Ms. Lomas labeled as horrific. She also alleged that midwives were slow to respond to the emergency, exacerbating the situation.
The inquest has been adjourned until Wednesday, with evidence expected from Dr. Giles Kendall, the consultant neonatologist who treated Poppy at University College Hospital in London. This case highlights significant concerns over home birth protocols and emergency preparedness in high-risk scenarios.
