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A probe has been launched after a baby born at a scandal-hit hospital was declared stillborn before the child was later found alive. Emma Cox gave birth to twins in 2011 at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, where doctors initially claimed one of her children was stillborn before she was returned to her from the mortuary alive. But tragically, despite Ms Cox begging for her daughter to be treated, she was left on a radiator for 12 hours and both twins later died. Ms Cox's horrifying case is just one of 20 under investigation at the hospital after Channel 4 News and the New Statesman reported serious cases of medical negligence at the maternity ward. The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting has now ordered NHS England to investigate the allegations. More than 20 families have shared their harrowing stories of how they lost babies, had children born with severe disabilities or suffered serious harm themselves as a result of poor care and failures to intervene quickly enough. Ms Cox, who gave birth to twins in 2011 when she was 17, said: 'At 24 weeks I went into spontaneous labour. They were born. I was told that one of them was stillborn and the other one was taken and resuscitated and taken to the neonatal unit. 'A short time later Lilly was brought back to me and they said the mortuary was unable to take her because she was actually alive.' Despite her daughter being found alive she was then left on a hospital radiator for 12 hours and then both twins later died. The investigation also uncovered that a support group for harmed patients was secretly recorded. During the secret filming, one mother whose severely disabled child was sat next to her in their wheelchair, allegedly said: 'I'm tempted to barricade the doors to the JR and set fire to the whole building with everyone in it. That's how I feel on a daily basis.' A maternity researcher who recorded the session then reported the comments to the police, but the force did not take action. The group was founded by Rebecca Matthews, a maternity patient of the Trust who led a campaign to improve services after being initially denied a caesarean section despite developing pre-eclampsia. As Ms Matthews prepared for her second birth, consultants had written on her notes: 'Now that you have met her do you want her? I don't!!!' Oxford University Hospitals Trust - which is one of 12 trusts under review as part of the rapid maternity review ordered by the Health Secretary - has acknowledged the incident involving Ms Matthews and stated that it has been formally investigated. An apology was then issued and regulatory process is ongoing. Simon Crowther, the interim chief executive at the Trust, said: 'At Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we recognise the profound responsibility entrusted to us in caring for women, babies and families during some of the most significant and vulnerable moments of their lives. 'We extend our heartfelt apologies to any family who have not received the standard of care they deserve and our condolences to those who tragically have experienced loss. 'We work hard to listen with care and compassion to the concerns that have been raised, and we remain fully committed to learning from them. 'The Trust is participating openly and transparently in the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation led by Lady Amos, and we welcome this opportunity to reflect, improve, and ensure that every voice is heard. 'Over recent years, we have taken meaningful steps to strengthen and improve our maternity services. This has included significant investment in our workforce, with the recruitment of 54 additional midwives.
