England footballer praises NHS for saving his baby

A footballer and his wife have praised staff at the maternity hospital which saved their new daughter's life.

Fulham player Paul Konchesky and his wife Lyndsey praised the care they and their daughter Tilly-Mai received after she arrived a month early.

The 28-year-old, who has played for England, and his wife had planned to have their first child at a private clinic in central London.

But when Mrs Konchesky, 26, went into labour early, on 9 July, she was taken from their home in Ongar to Queen's Hospital, Romford. Midwives discovered the baby was in the potentially dangerous breech position.

Tilly-Mai, who was born weighing only 4lbs 14oz, spent four days in intensive care. She was allowed home on 14 July and is now blossoming.

Konchesky, who has a seven-year-old son, Connor, from a previous relationship, said of the hospital: "They were superb from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. I can't thank the midwives enough for what they did for my wife and baby girl — they were all stars." His wife, a hairdresser, added: "I'd heard some horror stories about it so I was really worried and I was crying on the way there.

"But from the moment I got there we got the best service I could ever have hoped for — it was A1. If we ever have another baby I wouldn't go anywhere else. I would never go private, I'd go straight back there."

A Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: "Paul and Lyndsey are a lovely couple who were treated like any other."