Kelsey Parker, widow of late The Wanted singer Tom Parker, has told Sky News she experienced “harrowing” care after her son was stillborn.
Ms Parker, 35, announced the loss of her baby Phoenix, who she expected with new partner Will, in June last year.
The mother-of-two has now spoken to The UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee, where she described the devastation suffered after going into labour and giving birth at home at 39 weeks.
She was then taken to a maternity ward with other new mothers and babies.
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“I did not feel kindness and I think the people that had to look after me, their jaws were on the floor,” she said.
“They didn’t know what to do, their hands were tied.
“I think for me, reliving it, I needed that time off. I actually took time off work, which is unheard of for me, because I needed time to process what I went through, and I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone.
“It was absolutely horrendous, harrowing, awful.”
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Sky News has reported extensively on the state of maternity care in the UK, including the stories of three women who suffered traumatic experiences.
More than 180 people have written to Sky News to share their birth stories – you can share yours by emailing [email protected].
Read more:
What you told us about your maternity experiences
Woman says she ‘begged for pain relief but was told no’
Royal correspondent
After years of warnings, reviews, and mounting pressure, 2026 could be a pivotal moment for maternity services.
We’ve long-known maternity care is in crisis. It is a vital service but one which is under sustained strain. And in some cases, failing mothers and babies with tragic consequences.
Multiple national investigations over the last decade have highlighted serious failings. Each report written has made several recommendations, and yet the system still struggles.
Fundamental change is long overdue, and it could come with the publication of the Amos review. Baroness Amos is looking into system-wide issues, to understand why problems persist, and what needs to change.
But there is already scepticism as to what the review will achieve. Sky News has received hundreds of emails from families sharing their birth traumas. All similar stories, each one harrowing.
Many families feel deep mistrust, telling us we’ve been here before, and lessons haven’t been learnt. There’s a lot of pressure to get this right, and progress will be judged by positive outcomes not promises.
Of the 186 countries the UN collects data for, the UK was one of only 14 where maternal mortality rates were higher in 2020 than they were in 1985.
The US and Canada were also in that group, while Cyprus and Finland were the only other European countries.
Over that time, the UK has fallen from having the ninth-lowest maternal mortality rate in the world to being 42nd.
