Makerfield MP Josh Simons thanks Wigan Infirmary staff for saving his baby son's life

Josh Simons, the Labour MP for Makerfield, has revealed the anxious wait he faced as his child was being delivered by his wife Leah.

The baby’s heart rate plummeted during birth, so the maternity team had to take “decisive” action to keep him alive.

Fortunately – after the “longest half hour” of Mr Simons’ life – his little boy was born safely.

Mum and baby spent two days on the hospital’s maternity ward, before going to their home in Wigan.

The couple have chosen not to share their son’s name publicly.

Mr Simons, who is now a father of three, said: “I want to thank Wigan Infirmary’s incredible delivery, maternity and community teams of midwives, nurses, doctors and support staff. They saved my son’s life.

“After his heart rate plummeted during birth, Wigan’s delivery team took decisive action that saved him and protected Leah. I will never forget waiting outside theatre to hear if they were okay – the longest half hour of my life.

“There’s nowhere in the world I'd rather have been these past few, emotional days. We’re now safely back home. My family will be eternally grateful to the staff for their care, compassion and professionalism.

“In the end, it’s people who make the NHS work – what they do every day changes lives. Thank you."

While at the hospital, Mr Simons discovered that several members of the maternity team who cared for his family were constituents – and even picked up some casework he will be helping with.