WHEN Elaine and Robert Hunt turned up on the doorstep of Passmore Edwards Hospital in Liskeard staff quickly found themselves delivering a baby – the first to be born there for 16 years.

Forty-five year old Elaine, already a grandmother of ten went into labour just after 2am with her 13th child. The couple had intended to make the journey from their home in Tremar to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

They set off only to find the situation becoming increasingly frantic as their new baby decided to make an early entrance.

With Robert making a quick detour into Passmore Edwards, Elaine gave birth only ten minutes later, to a healthy 9lbs 13 and a half ounce baby boy, named Nathaniel.

Nathaniel was taken to Derriford, followed closely by his mum.

Mother and baby were reunited an hour later and released the following day, last Friday, coincidentally, Robert and Elaine's 27th Wedding Anniversary.

A series of chance events at the Passmore Edwards hospital ensured that Nathaniel's birth went as smoothly as possible.

It was simply through coincidence that a room was available, the doctor was in the building, and the community midwife lived only a few doors away.

Midwife

After moving back to the Liskeard area, it was Dr Iain Chorlton's first overnight shift on call. Upon Robert and Elaine's arrival, staff immediately called community midwife Alex Quaintaince who arrived in time to deliver the new baby at 3.10am, with the assistance of auxiliary nurse Joan Savage, night Sister Val Olver and enrolled nurse Janet Brookshaw.

Janet, who has been with the hospital for 29 years was present at the last birth in the hospital 16 years ago.

Then baby Katie was delivered in her parents car by Rhona Crews in the Passmore Edwards car park in 1986.

As the hospital is not purposely set up for dealing with births, Robert and Elaine were very lucky that appropriate staff were on hand.

Of all Robert and Elaine's children, Nathaniel is the only one to be born in Cornwall, with the remainder of their children: Michelle, 26; Catherine, 25; Philip, 23; Louise, 20; Donna, 19; Matthew, 17; Michael, 16; Bethany, 9; Sacha, 7; Bridie, 5; Phoebe, 4, and one year old Eden, all being delivered in Hertfordshire and Plymouth. As with all of their children, baby Nathaniel was planned after Elaine started to get 'very broody'.

She said: 'I have always loved children and always wanted a large family but never thought I would have one as big as this!'

Nathaniel is the last though, Elaine has vowed not to have any more children and husband Robert agreed 'never again!'

Hectic

Nathaniel's birth was, as Robert described 'Much more hectic than usual' and extremely quick, but luckily was very straightforward.

Elaine said: 'I am overjoyed and just so pleased that everything went ok. I am still on a high! I just can't stop looking at him, he is perfect and worth every minute of it.'

Robert and Elaine have said a big thank you to all the staff who were on duty at Passmore Edwards.