A baby born with four holes in her heart would not have survived without the dedication of the West Cumberland Hospital staff, a mother has claimed.

Briar Adair, who is telling her story in support of our SOS campaign, believes her daughter, Esme, would have died at birth without the immediate care provided at Whitehaven.

Esme Osborne was born in June 2015 after Briar, who was two weeks overdue, hadn't been progressing with her labour.

Briar, 24, of Whitehaven, said: "Within the hour, I was rushed for an emergency Caesarean as her oxygen levels were low and I had an infection in my waters.

"When Esme was delivered she was not breathing. She had to be resuscitated in theatre and taken straight to the special care baby unit.

"I was terrified. I hadn't realised just how serious it was. Esmé was on IV antibiotics and placed in an incubator for several days.

"She would not have made it to Cumberland Infirmary,'' Briar said. "She would have died.''

After returning home, Briar realised Esme was unable to gain weight. After several GP visits the baby was misdiagnosed with acid reflux.

However, it was only when Briar's health visitor arranged to visit a consultant at the West Cumberland Hospital that it was discovered Esme had a hole in her heart, and she was struggling to breathe.

Briar said: "We were devastated. The consultant at West Cumberland Hospital reassured us that Newcastle Freemans Hospital was the best place to go for the heart surgery that Esme needed.''

While at the Newcastle hospital it was discovered Esme had four holes in her heart and in August 2015 she received open heart surgery.

Briar said: "Esme is now 17 months old and is perfectly healthy. The staff at West Cumberland Hospital saved my baby's life not once, but twice. Without them she wouldn't be here.

"They were brilliant in how they helped her, and reassured us.''