A HOSPITAL has assured patients that changes have been made since the death of an unborn baby.

Olivia Harrison died during a car dash between Bishop Auckland General and Darlington Memorial hospitals.

Her mother, Andrea, 29, from Newton Aycliffe, had been wrongly booked into the low-risk maternity unit at Bishop Auckland. When problems arose, there was no ambulance available to transfer her to a suite at Darlington.

The case raised national concerns last month about the safety of midwife-run maternity units.

Bosses from the general hospital answered questions at an open meeting of County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust patient and public involvement forum and said measures had been put in place to prevent a reoccurrence.

Forum chairman Betty Hoy said: "We were satisfied that the hospital gave a full explanation regarding the case of Mrs Andrea Harrison and that assurances were also given that procedures have now been put in place to prevent a reoccurrence.

"This is a dreadful case and the forum members would naturally wish to extend its sympathies to Mrs Harrison and her family for their loss."