A KIDDERMINSTER woman has won compensation from health chiefs after her twin daughters were delivered stillborn.

The settlement was made between Stella Bate, 34, whose babies suffered from Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), and Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust .

It was not discovered Ms Bate’s babies were suffering from TTTS – a condition resulting in an imbalanced flow of blood from one twin to another - until 21 weeks into her pregnancy.

Solicitors Irwin Mitchell, representing Ms Bate, said an earlier scan could have prevented the deaths of Sophie Jane and Chloe Anne.

Ms Bate said she felt "so angry and upset", adding: "TTTS is treatable and has a high survival rate of at least 70 per cent if it is picked up early enough but my daughters were not given that chance and I find it very hard to cope with that knowledge.”

The trust has since changed maternity procedures so all such twin pregnancies are now routinely scanned from 16 weeks gestation rather than at 24 weeks.

Staff at Worcestershire Royal Hospital treating 34-year-old Ms Bate did not commence routine scanning at 16 weeks pregnancy.

On May 8, 2005, at 20 weeks, Ms Bate developed severe back and abdominal pain. She was admitted to hospital but was diagnosed with a urinary infection and sent home without an ultrasound scan.

The pain became worse overnight and Ms Bate returned to hospital the following day. She was sent home again, however, without a scan being performed.

By May 14, Ms Bate became so worried that she again contacted the hospital but was told there was no cause for concern.

Ms Bate was admitted to hospital the following day and it took more than two days for the hospital to perform a scan. It was at this point she was given the devastating news that her twins were suffering from TTTS.

She went into premature labour on May 23 and, despite the best efforts of obstetric staff, both babies were delivered stillborn.

Guy Forster, a medical negligence expert with Irwin Mitchell, said: “Aside from the fact that the trust did not carry out routine scans at 16 weeks, there were a number of opportunities when Stella attended the hospital and warning signs were missed.

“Independent medical experts have told us that hospital staff should have been actively looking out for such warning signs in a twin pregnancy like this but the staff failed to appreciate until it was too late what they were dealing with. In all likelihood both of Stella’s twin girls would have survived had she received proper care.

”The trust’s change in procedure for routine scans comes too late for Stella, however, it is hoped that future tragedies can be prevented.”

A spokesman for the trust said: “We would like to repeat our expression of profound regret and deepest sympathy for the circumstances giving rise to the stillbirth of Stella Bate’s twins.

“Our Chief Executive, John Rostill, apologised to Ms Bate following our review of her concerns in 2005. We are pleased that a settlement has now been agreed to her legal claim and we would like to extend our best wishes to Ms Bate and her family.”