Woman's 250-mile trip to give birth

A woman who went into labour three months early had to travel 250 miles to give birth because her hospital was full.

Clare Knight, 30, was 25 weeks pregnant when doctors said they did not have the specialist facilities to look after her baby at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

Ms Knight, from Newhaven, was taken by ambulance to St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, and now faces a 500-mile, 10-hour round-trip to visit her son Harrison, who is in intensive care after he was born weighing 2lb.

The baby's father, Greg Curl, 27, said: "They were going to airlift us, but the weather meant we had to go by ambulance-It is a time when you need family around, but we felt so isolated. I am just fearful about how we could get up there in time if he gets sick."

Ms Knight is at home caring for her son Elliot, two, who has also been in hospital.

Ian Keeber, of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust, said: "We try to give anyone delivering the right level of intensive care but last Sunday were absolutely full.

"The nearest hospital was in Manchester. It is regrettable it was that far away. We paid for a private ambulance, and sent a midwife and paramedics."