AT LEAST 350 newborn babies are dying in British hospitals every year because financial pressures are deterring doctors from checking for a life-threatening abnormality during pregnancy.

Senior consultants have privately admitted they do not carry out the necessary scan for the condition — vasa praevia — to avoid the costs of caring for affected mothers.

Other developed countries including America, Germany and Holland routinely check for the condition, which has a near-100% survival rate if diagnosed during pregnancy. In Britain, the mortality rate for otherwise healthy babies whose mothers suffer from it is more than 90%.

The scandal has been exposed by a husband-and–wife team of lawyers, one an expert in clinical negligence, whose son died shortly after birth in 2005 as a result of vasa praevia. Daren and Natalie Samat, of Amersham in Buckinghamshire, have formed an action group to campaign for all mothers to be scanned.

Vasa praevia occurs when blood vessels from the placenta or umbilical cord block a baby’s exit from the womb. When this occurs and the mother’s waters break, the blood vessels rupture and the baby loses large amounts of blood, typically causing its death.

However, experts say the condition can be relatively easily diagnosed by ultrasound as part of the standard 20-week scan. Expectant mothers with vasa praevia can then be admitted to hospital for several weeks and their babies delivered by caesarean shortly before they are due naturally.

National Health Service trusts are understood to be resisting introducing checks as those diagnosed with vasa praevia must be funded to spend between four and 15 weeks under close monitoring in hospital before having a caesarean.

According to official figures, at least one in every 2,500 babies dies as a result of vasa praevia — equivalent to between 350 and 400 every year.

However, experts believe the true figure could be at least twice as high, because many deaths are not recorded as being by vasa praevia. The death certificate of Henry, the Samats’ son, records that he died of “multiple organ failure”.

One leading specialist based in America who used to work in Britain believes the incidence of vasa praevia may be between one in 300 and one in 500, according to his clinical data.

Yinka Oyelese, of the Robert Wood Johnson University hospital, New Jersey, said: “There is no other condition I know of where prenatal diagnosis makes such a difference. Prenatal diagnosis is crucial.”

The Samats lost their son in November 2005 after four years of trying for a baby. Natalie, a leading London-based clinical negligence lawyer, had to have an emergency caesarean after heavy bleeding while her waters broke.

However, Henry had lost large amounts of blood, which caused severe kidney failure. He died in a specialist intensive care unit when he was 13 days old.

After setting up the UK Vasa Praevia Awareness Group, Daren, a criminal barrister, has travelled to medical conferences throughout Europe to raise awareness and research the condition. The couple, who six weeks ago had a healthy daughter, Francesca, have been told in private meetings with senior consultants that the condition is not diagnosed in most NHS hospitals for cost reasons.

“We had never heard of vasa praevia or its horrendous consequences until after the birth. Then, from basic research we discover that it is something that can be relatively easily diagnosed and dealt with,” said Daren.

“We have been told point blank that vasa praevia is not diagnosed because of the costs associated with treatment. We understand the cost pressures on the NHS, but we were never even diagnosed and given the choice of paying for assistance elsewhere.

“We have decided to campaign because we cannot stomach the thought of any other parents going through what we have in the past year.”

Laura and Marcello Mongiovi, from Wolverhampton, also lost their son, Alfonso, 22 minutes after his birth last June.

Laura, a building society worker, said: “It was horrendous. First there was a tiny spot of blood and then there was a flood. They rushed me into theatre and gave me a general anaesthetic. When I came round, a man, I think he was the anaesthetist, told me very gently, ‘We couldn’t save your son’s life, I am so very sorry.’

“The first I knew of vasa praevia was two days later. Now it’s with us every day, every night.”

A forthcoming study on vasa praevia is expected to show that fewer than 10% of NHS hospitals have guidelines requiring expectant mothers to be checked.

Stuart Campbell, a consultant at the Create Health Clinic, London, who pioneered 4D ultrasound scans that show foetuses yawning, smiling and “walking” in the womb in real time, said more should be done to screen for vasa praevia. “Everyone is seen at 20 weeks and I think it is crucial that the 10% who showa lowlying placenta are referred to a foetal medicine unit for specialist analysis,” he said.

Lisa Paine, a children’s books editor from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is one of the handful of Britons who can testify to the value of such specialist checks.

Her daughter Emilia was born in May 2005. “I was so lucky to have a doctor with a high degree of suspicion. I was diagnosed and my pregnancy was managed very carefully. I had a caesarean at 38Å weeks after 14 weeks in hospital,” said Paine.

“I look at my daughter and she’s beautiful and perfect. All it took was for someone to look a little bit harder, it is so easily treatable.”

The Department of Health said yesterday: “Routine screening for vasa praevia is not currently advocated as it is a technically difficult condition to detect, even for a highly skilled ultra-sonographer with the appropriate specialist equipment.”

If you would like to tell us about your experiences of vasa praevia, please e-mail health@sunday-times.co.uk

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