A woman has blasted the NHS for her “disgusting” treatment when she was allegedly sent home with a foetus in a plastic bag after suffering a miscarriage.
Sallie Axl received an outpouring of support after she criticised staff at Saint Mary’s Hospital, in Manchester, for having "no compassion" when she lost her unborn child twelve weeks into her pregnancy.
Ms Axl, a model and former contestant on Big Brother, accused the hospital of treating her foetus like “a takeaway” by handing the remains to her in a plastic bag.
She shared a picture of a plastic bag on her Twitter feed, where she wrote: “On 17 July I received my dead baby at hospital in a box and a plastic bag. With that, another bag of medicines and sent on my way home to grieve.
Left to grieve ... With my dead child in a plastic bag. @NHSEngland won't even return a email. Enough is enough pic.twitter.com/h1xw8FFTCJ
; Sallie Axl (@Sallieaxl) September 21, 2015
“My dead baby was treated no more than someone handing me over a takeaway. This is the first time I have been able to talk about this as my ordeal was disgusting."
Her posts on social media were met with an outpouring of sympathy and anger over her alleged treatment.
@Sallieaxl @NHSEngland disgusting this is still going on !!! This was happening in 2009 - this is the 21st century !!! RIP little one x
; Sam B (@_Psychic_Sam) September 22, 2015
I feel so sorry for @Sallieaxl
; Shay (@shaymahonn) September 22, 2015
@Sallieaxl @NHSEngland shocking way to get treated in such a sensitive situation!! So very sorry for your loss!!! X
; TRACY (@nannyscarymary) September 22, 2015
NHS England has responded to a number of Ms Axl’s tweets and advised her to contact the hospital. A spokesperson from Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, said it was unable to comment on cases directly and urged the family to make contact with staff at the hospital.
The hospital said in a statement: “Although we are unable to comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality, we are very proud of our services to support women who have undergone a miscarriage and are really very sorry if this has not been the case on this occasion.
“Unfortunately the family have not contacted us directly, and we would encourage them to make contact with our Patient Advice and Liaison Service so we can address any concerns on 0161 276 8686.”
