by Jenny Engstrom A rejected mother-to-be is celebrating after being given a place at her hospital-of-choice thanks to the Times. Sianna Martin, of London Road, Wembley, applied to a number of hospitals as soon as she found out s

by Jenny Engstrom

A rejected mother-to-be is celebrating after being given a place at her hospital-of-choice thanks to the Times.

Sianna Martin, of London Road, Wembley, applied to a number of hospitals as soon as she found out she was pregnant but was told they were overbooked.

The 22-year-old was however offered a place at Northwick Park, in Harrow, but felt reluctant to go there after her niece, who suffered from a heart condition, died there in 2001, just four months old.

Ms Martin, who is 18 weeks pregnant, said: "I was worried because of all the bad publicity surrounding the hospital and the care my niece received.

"That place has bad memories for me. I shouldn't be forced to have my baby there. But I don't want to go too far away either and I just can't afford going private."

Ten women died at Northwick Park during pregnancy or shortly after between 2002 and 2005, prompting the Healthcare Commission to place it on special measures.

And last year, another three women suffered fatal complications at the unit.

Ms Martin applied to Queen Charlotte's Hospital, in Du Cane Road, Wormwood Scrubs, and St Mary's Hospital, in Praed Street, Paddington - both part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - but was told they were overbooked.

Surprisingly, the trust changed their mind after her story was picked up by the Times.

Ms Martin added: "Shortly after the story featured in the Times I got a call from the head of midwifery at St Mary's Hospital, saying how embarrassed they were that I had been rejected and that I should have been offered a place right away because of my history and background at Northwick Park.

"I'm so grateful to the Times for helping me out. I've just started my antenatal care at St Mary's and I'm really looking forward to having my baby now. I couldn't be any happier."

A spokeswoman for the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs St Mary's Hospital, said: "At the time of Ms Martin's referral we did not have capacity to accommodate her at Queen Charlotte's or St Mary's Hospital. We now have sufficient capacity at St Mary's and are happy to welcome Ms Martin to the hospital to deliver her child."

A spokeswoman for the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Northwick Park, said: "We are conducting a review of our maternity services and a draft report has been completed and sent to the Healthcare Commission for comment.

"If women do have any concerns then we would encourage them to contact us so we can discuss these with them and reassure them."

jenny.engstrom@archant.co.uk