'I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone': Parents whose baby boy died of a brain injury at Russells Hall Hospital

‘I just hope the hospital makes improvements so nobody else suffers like we have had to.’

That is the message from the devastated parents of Myles Oakley, who are still struggling to overcome the ‘agony’ of their son’s death nearly three years on.

Louise and Craig Oakley have spoken out after Dudley’s NHS Trust admitted liability for Myles’ death – and agreed to a ‘substantial undisclosed settlement’.

Myles’ death is among dozens of cases that led to serious failings being uncovered in the quality of maternity services at Russells Hall Hospital between April 2014 and December 2015.

Hospital bosses have offered their ‘sincere condolences’ to the couple.

Craig, from Dudley, said: “I wouldn’t wish the pain our family has gone through over the last few years on anyone.

“I just hope that Russells Hall makes improvements to make sure nobody else suffers like we have had to.”

Louise went into the hospital on May 7, 2015, to give birth to Myles. But his condition started to deteriorate and Louise was given drugs to speed up the labour.

Myles was in distress but was not delivered until after 10pm. He was born in a poor state and had to be resuscitated.

He deteriorated further, which led to his parents taking the heartbreaking decision to turn off Myles’ life-support machine the day after his birth.

He was found to have died from a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen, an infection and ante-partum bleeding.

Myles’ death was one of 43 serious incidents reported at the hospital’s maternity department between April 2014 and December 2015 – 25 of which were re-examined amid concerns over how they were originally investigated.

A ‘detailed clinical review’ has since been carried out with hospital bosses putting an improvement plan in place.

A report published by the Dudley Maternity Quality Improvement Board last October said maternity services at the trust were now ‘safer and more clinically effective’.

But Myles’ heartbroken parents have today criticised the hospital for not allowing them to spend time with the baby and being rushed out of the hospital.

Louise, 40, said: “The agony of losing Myles is something that neither of us will fully ever get over.

"Nearly three years on I’m still angry with not only the care we received but the way we were treated by the hospital.

“We never got to hold Myles while he was still alive and after he died it felt like we were in the way. We were told his death was simply ‘one of those things’.

“Myles will always be a part of our family. We are devastated he is not here to grow up with his brother and sister.”

Lawyer Mark Cawley, from Irwin Mitchell, said: “Louise and Craig will never forget the tragic and traumatic events surrounding Myles’ birth. It is vital the trust learns lessons from Myles’ death.”

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust’s chief executive Diane Wake said: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Louise and Craig Oakley for the tragic loss of their baby Myles in May 2015.

“They are very much in my thoughts. While the claim has been resolved I fully appreciate that the loss of a baby is one of the hardest burdens to bear and cannot begin to imagine how they are feeling at this time.

“A quality improvement board, with an independent chair was set up in 2016, because the trust reported a higher number of serious incidents compared to comparable trusts in the West Midlands during April 2014 to December 2015.

“We worked closely and openly with our commissioners, regulators and other key health partners to review 25 maternity incidents including Myles’s tragic death.

"The families involved were given the opportunity to actively engage in the process, contribute towards any lessons learned and were kept informed throughout.

“The fact that the families involved were prepared to assist us in our review has been invaluable and I would like to thank all of them, including Louise and Craig Oakley, for sharing their experiences.

“The quality improvement board was assured that after the detailed clinical review, and by the subsequent improvement plan, that the maternity services at the trust are safer and more clinically effective.”