A WOMAN'S claim that midwives ignored the pain that killed her baby in a Preston hospital have been heard at a tribunal.

Patricia Lynn Archer, who was described as a 'high-risk patient' at a Nursing and Midwifery Council disciplinary hearing this week, has waived her anonymity to tell the tribunal she was left in agony for an hour after her womb ruptured in Sharoe Green Hospital three years ago.

Two senior midwives, Sharon Clifford and Rita Heyes, face claims that they failed to properly monitor Mrs Archer.

At a tribunal opened on Monday, May 20, in London, Mrs Archer, who lived in Preston until recently, wept as she relived her ordeal.

She said: "It was far more severe pain than I had experienced before." Mrs Archer, who had suffered three previous miscarriages, was admitted to the hospital, on January 25, three years ago, to give birth to her son, Laurence.

She was given drugs to induce labour and kept in overnight, but in the morning still wasn't ready to give birth. After another dose of drugs, she began to feel a searing pain as she took a bath.

She said: "I was in the bath and I felt, heard and experienced this horrendous pop.

"I got up and as soon as I was upright I felt as if my sides were falling out."

Mrs Archer was returned to her bed and given pain killers, but it is claimed she was left alone, and not properly monitored.

Mrs Archer was later taken to a delivery suite where medical staff discovered her uterus had ruptured and her baby was stillborn.

Rita Heyes, from Clitheroe, and Sharon Clifford, from Greater Manchester, admit failing to adequately record and monitor maternal observations during the induction of labour, and failing to adequately monitor Mrs Archer in view of a previous Caesarean section and scarring of the uterus.

But they both deny misconduct and failing to ensure medical assistance was obtained for the patient when she complained of severe pain. Sharon Clifford denies failing to take Mrs Archer's observations when she complained of severe pain.

The hearing was adjourned until July 25, when the midwives will give evidence.