AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a young mother claimed she gave birth to her premature baby on a hospital toilet because doctors denied she was in labour. Lisa Rice said she was in so much pain giving birth to her daughter, Jessica, when she was about 23 weeks pregnant that it was like a scene from a horror film.

Jessica was stillborn, but Miss Rice and her partner Jason Beer believe their daughter may still be alive if staff at Medway Maritime Hospital had acted differently. The couple have since met with hospital bosses and an investigation is now under way.

Jessica, who was due early next month, was born on October 31, weighing just under 1lb.

Miss Rice, a mother-of-five, claims her contractions were not monitored and she was not given a bed in the delivery suite for two days despite midwives feeling her stomach had gone hard - a sign that a mother is ready to give birth. It was only when the 29-year-old, from Carrington Close, Gillingham, saw her baby's leg kicking between her legs that she was rushed to the delivery suite and given a spinal block.

Miss Rice, who suffered blood clots throughout the pregnancy, said: "I was in agony for two days, suffering from severe labour pains. Time and time again I asked for pain relief but I was ignored. I could feel the force of the baby kicking and moving vigorously. She was alive right up until she was born.

"Babies have been saved at 20 weeks before. They should have had all the equipment ready to try to save her. They put that poor baby and myself through a hell of a lot of stress."

The family has now contacted Medway and Swale Community Health Council as it fights for a written apology from the hospital and a full investigation. Mr Beer, 30, said: "We have so many unanswered questions, we are determined not to give up the fight. We're numb and are still grieving for our baby daughter but this issue needs to be brought to light."

David Green, a spokesman for Medway Maritime Hospital, said: "We were very sorry to learn that Ms Rice was unhappy with her treatment at the hospital. The issues that she has raised are in the early stages of investigation. Once we have established all the facts, we will liaise directly with Ms Rice and provide her with a detailed account of our findings."