A COUPLE are seeking more than £300,000 in damages from Yeovil District Hospital after a "horrifying and distressing" labour.

Frances and Mark Sloman of Baltonsborough, near Somerton, have issued a writ at the High Court, claiming damages for personal injuries and trauma suffered through the "negligence of staff" during the birth of their second child on June 5, 2007.

Allegations within the writ claim there was an atmosphere of panic in the theatre room during the caesarean section, with the senior house officer Dr Vinita Raheja at one stage shouting she "could not find the baby".

Although their son is now a healthy two-and-a-half year old, former teacher Mrs Sloman, 37, sustained physical injuries which she claims were the result of the unsatisfactory care she received.

Her husband, who was present at the birth, is claiming "psychiatric injury in the event of witnessing horrifying and distressing events concerning his wife and unborn child".

The case has been taken to the High Court by solicitors Tozers and could take up to two years to be resolved – either by trial or an out-of-court settlement.

Tozers partner Stuart Bramley said: "We are liaising closely with the hospital solicitors and hope that an agreed settlement may be possible in future. Until then, Fran and her husband Mark, who has himself been traumatised by what happened to his wife, ask that their privacy be respected."

The writ claims that as soon as it emerged a caesarean may be necessary, the delivery should have been "handled by an experienced and skilled obstetrician and that Dr Raheja was not such an obstetrician."

After Dr Raheja's two attempts to deliver the baby by ventouse – instruments attached to the baby's head so it can be pulled out – were unsuccessful, she was advised to proceed immediately to a caesarean, which resulted in the birth at 2.15am.

The writ describes how an on-call consultant was called by a midwife to assist with delivery but he arrived after the birth. He had to repair internal injuries caused by the caesarean procedure.

Four hours later Mrs Sloman collapsed due to a haemorrhage and claims medics did not respond quickly. She had to undergo surgery to control internal bleeding and fix the bladder which was leaking, despite having been repaired by the consultant.

The writ also alleges that blood samples were mislabelled and claims the couple suffered injury as a result of breaches of duty by staff during the labour, delivery and post-natal period.

A spokesman for the hospital said they could not comment for legal reasons, stating: "We are aware of this claim, which is being handled by our solicitors."