Bereaved parents head campaign

6:00am Friday 23rd February 2007

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A SOUTH BUCKS couple are fronting a national campaign to make hospitals carry out a routine pregnancy scan which could have saved their first child's life.

Lawyers Darren Samat, 39, and his wife Natalie, 35, from Chesham Bois, lost their 13-day-old baby Henry in 2005 due to the little known condition vasa praevia.

"I feel it's our duty to do this for Henry."

The couple have set up their own website, www.vasapraevia.co.uk, which has information on the condition.

According to their research at least 350 children die every year as a result of vasa praevia, but they say no specific attempt is made to diagnose the condition in the UK - in order to save money.

Darren said: "We know of no pre-natally diagnosed cases that have resulted in the loss of the baby's life. On the other hand, we know of very few cases diagnosed after birth that have resulted in anything but catastrophe."

Vasa praevia occurs when blood vessels from the placenta or umbilical cord block a baby's exit from the womb. When the mother's water breaks, the blood vessels rupture and the baby loses large amounts of blood, usually resulting in death.

Darren said: "We're not out to bash the NHS. We want to work with them.

"We've been told it's not being done due to budgetary constraints, but no one has actually said what is going to cost too much."

Since their tragedy the Samats have worked to raise money for the special care baby unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and to increase public awareness of vasa praevia.

Darren said: "This is not just about a tragic story. This can be diagnosed, and when that happens it's not a tragic story. I feel it's our duty to do this for Henry. We want to raise awareness and we want the NHS to manage it properly."

Happily, Darren and Natalie's second child, Francesca, was born healthily seven weeks ago.

Jon Fisher, a NHS Trust spokesman said: "We extend our condolences to the family for their loss, and we are extremely grateful to them for the amount of advice provided to us.

"As a consequence, we have been able to implement changes in our scanning service to pregnant women in the most at-risk category.

"The family should also be applauded for the work they continue to do to highlight this condition."

For more information go to www.vasapraevia.co.uk