Mother stole identity to keep her newborn
An investigation is under way after a pregnant woman whose children had been taken into care stole another patient's identity to give birth.
It is believed the woman had hid her true name from Walsall Manor Hospital so that she would not have to give up her fourth child.
Kay Costin only found out her identity had been stolen when she received a letter congratulating her on the birth of her child while she was still pregnant.
Security has now been tightened at Walsall Manor Hospital, which launched a probe into what had happened in August.
Mrs Costin, aged 24, who is from Wednesbury, eventually gave birth to her daughter Breah in October – two weeks later than her designated due date – after having an emergency caesarean which she believes may have been triggered by the stress.
Along with husband Michael, aged 29, they had been stunned to get the letter congratulating them on the birth before it had even happened.
They soon spoke to the midwife, who said a Mrs Costin had a baby at Walsall Manor. This was even though the real Mrs Costin was not even due to go to that hospital.
The laundry operator said she had been left scared after her identity was taken and more should have been done to prevent it.
"I was scared because I thought someone was following me," she said.
"We were locking the doors, I was scared someone had gone through my bin.
"It should not have been allowed to happen, there should have been more done to stop it," she added.
"I wasn't even supposed to go into Walsall Manor, I was booked into City Hospital to have my baby."
"It made me feel really shocked that someone could do it."
Mrs Costin thinks it may have been someone who knows her, but it has not been confirmed.
It is believed the woman told staff she did not have her paper records with her as they had been left with a midwife and the baby has now been removed from her care.
Richard Kirby, chief executive at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said today: "The incident which occurred in summer 2013 related to an identity theft by an individual using our maternity service.
"This resulted in a serious incident investigation both internally and across a multi-agency network.
"Although this is a very rare occurrence the importance of the learning from this incident has been of value across the organisation and strengthened our procedures for admission and discharge, ensuring that patients have been fully identified."
