Two families torn apart by the death of their premature babies have spoken for the first time about their devastating loss. Andrew and Ally McCloud, of York, and Jane Thorne, of Pocklington, both suffered the pain of seeing their babies die after they were born severely prematurely, reports STEVE CARROLL.

WHEN hairdresser Andrew McCloud and his wife Alison read in the Evening Press about the plight of Helen Kinder, they knew they had to help.

They understood the pain the 26-year-old mum-of-five was going through when she was separated from her severely premature baby shortly after his birth.

For Andrew and Ally suffered the loss of two premature infants before their third child, also born premature, survived.

They were so moved by Helen's story, which revealed how she was transferred 75 miles to Manchester after consultants frantically rang hospitals across the north to find her new-born baby an intensive care cot, that they offered money to help the family.

They have paid for them to stay in a hotel in Manchester, with spending money, so they can be close to their critically ill son, Joel.

Andrew, 37, who owns Michael Andrew of York, in Coppergate, said he had felt compelled to do what he could to help.

He said Ally had given birth at York Hospital at 26 and 25 weeks, four-and-a-half and three years ago, before their third child Finlay, now eight months, was born at 30 weeks at Leeds.

"The third time we feared the worst," he said. "It was terrible. When we saw Helen's story, we were upset. The baby looked just like our son.

"There are a lot of people in this situation and I just thought 'I can help her'. There should be no expense spared on human life."

Andrew also called for York Hospital to be upgraded to cope with extremely premature babies. He revealed that he and Ally had their third child delivered in Leeds, following their experiences in York.

"We have gone through it ourselves so we know what it's like. This will keep on happening, unless the facilities at the hospital are upgraded. It is specialist nurses they need.

"The first time was four-and-a-half years ago at 25 weeks. We weren't offered any alternative. The second, three years ago, I went up to the ward and said they had to get a life support bed somewhere.

"I went mad. We were told to just stay and see what happens. This was my son and these babies can survive, so the third time we went to Leeds instead of York."

Helen said she had been left speechless by Andrew's offer. "People have been so kind. Many have said they are praying for us," she said.

"I feel a lot better now I am near him, but there have been a few complications. He is not putting on weight as he should be and we still have to take it day by day.

"I think the McClouds are great. I was overwhelmed by it. You don't really think there are people like that in the world. I was quite emotional when I found out and I am extremely grateful to them."

Jane's story

A WOMAN whose IVF twin babies died after being born prematurely said she would have "travelled round the whole world" for a chance to save her children.

Jane Thorne hit out at York Hospital after she claimed she was not given the option to transfer to another hospital when her pregnancy ended in tragedy 18 months ago.

The 26-year-old, from Pocklington, spoke for the first time about her devastating loss after reading how consultants at York Hospital dashed York mum Helen Kinder to Lancashire.

Helen, a mum-of-five, said she endured a terrifying dash across the M62 to St Mary's Hospital because there were no facilities at York to care for her baby, who was born three-and-a-half months early. Maternity experts had contacted hospitals in Leeds, Newcastle, Hull and even Bristol before a cot was found in Manchester.

Jane, who has not tried again for a child with husband Paul since her experiences at York Hospital, said the different actions taken by experts in the two cases had left her feeling outraged. "I lost twins. I was 24 weeks pregnant. They were 1lb 6 oz and 1lb 4 oz. The thing that makes me mad is that I was never given the choice to be transferred. They just told me at that stage that they wouldn't live," she said.

"When I went in they the hospital told me they did not have the facilities for babies at such a young age.

"I am outraged. She got this offer, while we would have travelled round the whole world, but we didn't get the chance."

Jane, an NHS staff nurse, was admitted to York Hospital in August 2003. "They put a drip in my arm to try and stop me giving birth. My babies were given a five per cent chance of survival."

She said: "I get upset thinking about it. We haven't tried since. We were too distressed. You never get over it. My life was over. We lost so much.

"I get angry, very angry. It has changed my life. This lady's child survived. Mine didn't get the chance."

A York Hospital NHS Trust spokeswoman said: "We understand how distressing the loss of a baby is to families and are always available to talk with parents about their personal experience should they feel this would be helpful.

"The important decision about whether or not to transfer to a more specialist regional centre is made on medical grounds, in careful consultation with colleagues in regional centres and taking account of the condition and welfare of both the mother and baby.

"For a variety of reasons, it is sometimes not the best option to transfer mother and/or baby to another unit."

York Hospital boss: Tough decisions have to be made

JIM Easton, York Hospital NHS Trust Chief Executive, said it was right that specialist care should be located away from local hospitals. But he declined to talk in detail about the circumstances involving the McClouds and Jane Thorne.

Mr Easton said: "The issue of moving patients to a very specialist centre is not completely uncommon for us and is part of modern neonatal care.

"These very early deliveries require a high level of intensive care. We can stabilise early births but it is not a hard and fast system.

"It can depend on the weight of the pregnancy or how the baby is in the womb. Very highly specialist care can be needed.

"We would not want to provide that. Units would be empty most of the time. This is not because we are short of things, such as money or beds. It has just been decided that the pattern of care for the UK, for very specialist services, should be across a population of two or three million people.

"Senior doctors across the country feel that the right thing to do is to have a small number of very specialist centres for these kinds of issues.

"The issue of transfer is traumatic, but a judgement is made - it is tough decisions that have to be made. They are made in the best interest of the mums and babies."

Fact file

EVERY year 1,800 babies in the UK are born weighing less than 1 kilogram. About 6,800 are born between 24 and 31 weeks.

Babies born between 24 and 28 weeks are classed as extremely premature.

On the health scale, York provides up to what is known as level 2 care. This means the hospital can cater for babies who require urgent treatment.

Level 3 is intensive care. Babies who weigh less than 1 kilogram or are less than 28 weeks old and suffering respiratory problems can only be treated at specialist centres.

York's Special Care Baby Unit is funded for 13 special care cots and two intensive care cots. It is not, however, geared up to deal with the most premature babies.

- At 22 to 23 weeks, about 24 per cent of babies survive

- At 24 weeks, this rises to 31 per cent

- By 25 weeks, survival rates are 50 per cent

- From 32 weeks onwards, most babies are able to survive with the help of medical technology

- 20 years ago, approximately 20 per cent of babies weighing less than 2lb 2oz survived. These days, 80 per cent survive

- Twelve per cent of all babies born need some level of special care at birth and 2.5 per cent require a level of neonatal intensive care

BLISS, the premature baby charity, was set up more than 20 years ago by parents concerned about the lack of resources for babies who needed specialist care. It can help by offering support for parents and families and information about options and services available.

To contact Bliss, phone 020 7820 9471.

Updated: 10:38 Friday, March 18, 2005