Medway hospital bosses have apologised to a mother after she claimed her stillborn baby was left for six days instead of being taken to a mortuary.

The baby girl was born by Caesarean at Medway Maritime Hospital and put in a cold cot which allowed her parents to spend grieving time with her.

She was later transferred to a transport cot to be taken for a post mortem examination, but was not taken to the mortuary.

Her 31-year-old mother, who does not wish to be named, received a “satisfactory settlement” from the Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

Since her baby’s death in April 2014, the hospital has introduced specialist staff and new guidelines to prevent a similar situation occurring again.

Medway charity, Abigail’s Footsteps, has donated two cold cots to the maternity ward and work started on bereavement suite in April.

The suite is away from the maternity wards and will be soundproofed so parents can grieve on their own, without the sound of newborns and happy families near by.

The trust was told to urgently improve maternity services in October 2013, but following the latest Care Quality Commission Inspection, the maternity and gynaecology unit has now been rated good in all areas.

Dot Smith, head of midwifery and gynaecology, said: “We’re extremely sorry for the distress the family has suffered. We’ve already written to the family to acknowledge the failings on our part.

“We carried out a Serious Incident investigation report into the circumstances surrounding this matter – the findings of which have been provided to the family.

"As a result of this incident, we have introduced new guidelines for our nursing staff to prevent this from ever happening again.

“We’ve employed the services of a bereavement midwife to provide specialist support to our staff, and to help grieving families in coordinating bereavement care, should they suffer the tragedy of losing a child.

“In addition, we will also be unveiling a new bereavement suite this autumn – a facility that is being specially constructed for families who experience a stillbirth or lose a child shortly after birth. Once again, we would like to convey our sincere apologies to the family.”