Warning: This article features themes some people may find distressing.
Hyperemesis gravidarum affects around 30,000 women in the UK every year and symptoms include debilitating nausea and frequent vomiting during pregnancy. Susan Cronshaw’s daughter took her life while suffering from the condition and fears more women will die if care isn’t improved across the UK, as ITV News’ Cari Davies explains.
In her first interview since the deaths of her daughter Jess and granddaughter Elsie, Susan Cronshaw says she never wants anyone else with the illness to feel so desperate.
“I wouldn’t want anybody to feel how Jess did, she felt like no one was listening, and they weren’t. It felt like you were just pushed from pillar to post. There was nobody taking it and being in charge of it,” Susan told ITV News.
Jess saw GPs, midwives, nurses and consultants, but Susan says no one really recognised how sick she was or gave the family a treatment plan.
She was prescribed anti-sickness medication that took the edge off her symptoms, but in a call to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, she was incorrectly told she should stop taking them.
The reason behind that advice wasn’t recorded by the hospital, but Jess was mistakenly led to believe the drugs would harm her baby.
Susan now wants UK-wide improvements in the management of the condition.
Chief Nurse at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Peter Murphy, said: "We are so sorry we failed Jessica and Elsie when they needed our care.
“We completely accept the recommendations and all issues highlighted during the inquest and have taken action.
“Of course the thoughts of everyone at ELHT remain with the family.”
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