Phil Jones

Said the following about London Bridge StationTeam:

“The successful delivery of a baby boy during the evening peak rush hour on Thursday 27th April, at London Bridge Station. The SSM on duty and CSA staff took excellent care of the mother as she went through her labour and assisted the safe birth of the baby in a high pressured, unpredictable situation. There is no way to prepare for this kind of sudden and unexpected scenario. As a team we had to think on our feet, in a highly stressful situation, with the focus being on the safety of the mother and her unborn baby. We received a radio call at approximately 16:20 from the South-eastern platform supervisor, requesting the NR customer service team assist with a pregnant female passenger, whom was feeling unwell. On arrival at the scene, it was ascertained that her contractions had started on the platform. Our efficient communication meant that we were able to locate an off-duty doctor to lead and make the passenger, now in labour, feel as comfortable as possible. Having called for an ambulance which was unable to arrive in time, the decision was made to move her safely into our station first aid room, and convert it into a delivery room to give her both privacy and reassurance. The medical team were supported by three members of our customer service team, all of whom are highly first aid trained. They also provided a high level of moral support, encouragement and care to the mother during her labour. Whilst the passenger was giving birth, the rest of the customer service team quickly and safely created a sterile area and arranged for the ambulance to be greeted upon arrival, at the same time as keeping the station operating as normal to avoid any negative impact on passengers during the evening peak. This resulted in additional customer service duties being undertaken by all members of our station team, in a high pressured, unexpected and difficult environment. All of our customer service assistants went above and beyond their required duties during this scenario, and all expressed interest in the mother and baby’s health and wellbeing after they had finished their shift, with flowers and a card being delivered personally to the family. The safe, successful and robust delivery of a healthy baby boy, named “Ibrahim”, at London Bridge Station. The family were also supported by the team with duty of care provided after the birth and her departure from hospital.

London Bridge Station received two messages of thanks from the parents of the new-born baby shortly following the birth:

“On Friday 28th April 2017, at 7am, I received a message from Onwuka, the father of the baby born at the station, asking me to pass on his thanks to all the staff at London Bridge. He stated how happy and grateful he was for the help that his family have received from all of us. The baby has now been named Ibrahim. The same day, at 9pm, I received a call from Otta, the mother, telling me she wants to say thanks as well to all the staff at London Bridge for the excellent customer service and support during the birth of baby Ibrahim.

I asked how Otta and Ibrahim were, and she replied that her husband had just collected her and the baby from the hospital and they were currently on their way home. She said that because the baby was due very early, they had not prepared the baby’s room and were very busy, and so were unable to visit the station to say thank you in person.”

The station and the team on duty received very positive media attention, with an article appearing in the Evening Standard Online, and a very complimentary article appearing in Time Out Magazine. Time Out stated:

“The station staff came to rescue, wrapping her in blankets grabbed from a nearby branch of Oliver Bonas and taking her to a medical room, which had been set up while building work continues at London Bridge, where she gave birth to a baby boy at around 4:30pm.”

We also received compliments and praise on social media, with Twitter being a particularly popular forum for this news.

News of the birth of the baby was shared internally within Network Rail, by an article on Connect. The team on duty at London Bridge received high praise and thanks from all of their Network Rail colleagues via this forum. Some of these comments are quoted below:

• Jane Wharam stated: “What a lovely story and a great example of teamwork!”

• Vivien Lee complimented: “Thumbs up for London Bridge team. I am proud of their calm and efficient help.”“