A WOMAN was told she was 10 minutes from death after being given the wrong drugs during labour.

First-time mum Anna Cope, 18, was given the after-birth injection instead of morphine, during the birth of her son Bradley at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Surgeons were forced to perform an emergency caesarean section to save baby Bradley and Mrs Cope needed a blood transfusion to save her own life.

Now 12 months on from the horrific incident, Mrs Cope says she hopes a four figure settlement paid by the hospital last week, will help her get over the terrible accident.

Mrs Cope, of Shails Lane, Trowbridge, said problems began when she was taken into hospital to be induced because she was more than a week overdue.

During the birthing process midwives noticed the baby was facing upwards instead of down and consultants used forceps to try to turn the baby over.

Mrs Cope was then taken to theatre in a attempt to turn the baby around.

During the operation the anaesthetist administered the afterbirth injection instead of morphine.

Mrs Cope said: "After the incident I asked how much danger we were in and one of the consultants said we had 10 minutes to live.

"I had half of my blood replaced and was knocked out for ages, missing the vital first few hours with my son.

"Bradley was in intensive care with bad jaundice. My husband Matthew was gutted when he first saw him there were tubes everywhere.

"It ruined my first hours of motherhood and I was shocked how close I was to death.

"They also told me I would never have children again. But I am 12 weeks pregnant now this time I am going to Swindon.

"I was 16 when I knew I was pregnant and very excited but it nearly ended up in disaster.

"I was only trying to have a baby, I can't believe they could mess up like that. People have babies every day.

"The money never makes up for it but at least it is recognition.

It was in my medical notes that they made a mistake."

Celebrating Bradley's first birthday earlier this month, Mrs Cope said she still feels lucky her precious son is still alive and unaffected by the trauma.

She said: "His first birthday was so special. He is the happiest baby I have ever seen, he even wakes up smiling."

A spokesman for the Royal United Hospital said the NHS Trust had paid compensation to Mrs Cope (who was Miss Saxby at the time of the accident) and had apologised for the error.

She said: "Miss Saxby made a claim against the Royal United Hospital NHS Trust for an unnecessary caesarean section delivery following the misapplication of a drug during the delivery of her baby last year.

"Miss Saxby has recently accepted a financial sum in settlement of this claim from the hospital.

"The Trust deeply regrets the incident which was fully investigated at the time and has apologised for the distress to Miss Saxby and her family."