Mum given foetus wrapped in ‘toilet paper’ when she picked up ashes of her baby

'I don't want anyone else to go through what me and my partner have gone through.'

A woman was given a foetus wrapped in ‘toilet paper’ when she went to pick up the ashes of her nine-week-old baby from hospital.

Chantelle Renwick, 28, had an ectopic pregnancy at University Hospital of North Durham on August 4, 2023 and following the operation wanted the remains.

She picked up a box with her mum, Yasmine Renwick, seven weeks later and expected to find a container inside but was traumatised by what she came across.

‘I don’t want anyone else to go through what me and my partner have gone through,’ Chantelle said.

‘I opened the box expecting to find ashes. It wasn’t ashes, it was the actual baby. It’s given me nightmares. It’s made me really poorly. That hospital really doesn’t understand what they have done to me as a grieving mother.

‘Every day I get up and I can’t stop picturing it. It’s constantly stuck in the back of my head.

‘We got sent a letter that said “we know you didn’t want to be contacted by phone but we would like to hear your side of the story”.

‘I don’t want anything to do with that hospital.’

A recent CQC inspection found the maternity wards at University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital, run by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, both ‘inadequate’.

Yasmine said: ‘It’s been horrific because I’m so close to Chantelle. I have felt everything that she has gone through.

‘It’s been absolutely heartbreaking to see what they have gone through. When she opened the box in the car it was horrific.

‘I have never seen anything like it. It was the worst sight I have ever seen.’

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We extend our sincerest condolences to Chantelle and her family during this sad and difficult time.

‘We understand that the process of managing an ectopic pregnancy is an incredibly sensitive and emotional journey for patients and their loved ones.

‘Our primary goal is to provide compassionate and supportive care throughout this process, and we deeply regret any shortcomings in Chantelle’s experience.

‘Our patient experience team has initiated direct contact to offer our heartfelt apologies and to provide a platform for her to share her concerns and feelings.

‘We are committed to listening, learning, and working collaboratively with Chantelle, through a thorough review of our processes, to address her specific needs and concerns and any areas for improvements.

‘We value patient feedback and consider it an essential tool for continuous improvement.

‘We are open to learning from Chantelle’s experience and implementing any changes that will positively impact the care and support we provide to all patients facing similar circumstances.’

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