The Portland was conceived by Barry Lewis, a paediatrician, who perceived a need for London to have a private hospital for women and children: it opened in 1983.

On February 6, Touche reported severe headache pain after a caesarean section to Portland staff, but her rising blood pressure was not checked for two and a half hours.

"[13] Touche pointed to a lack of basic medical attention and record keeping, delays in administering drugs, and accused the hospital of a cover-up.

[15] In response to The Observer's findings, the then deputy general secretary to the Royal College of Midwives, Louise Silverton, said:I am absolutely shocked and appalled.

[20] James Dwerryhouse suffered cardiac arrest and brain damage when the breathing equipment he needed to monitor sleep apnoea was switched off for nearly three hours.

[27] The inquest heard that, despite signs of distress and an irregular heartbeat, staff at the Portland failed to carry out a blood test to determine if it was safe to continue delivery or if a caesarean section was appropriate.

[28] Livermore and Del-Giudice claim that staff at the Portland insisted that Jake Junior was dead upon delivery, but a coroner ruled that the baby was born alive "in very poor condition.

Knowing that people who I trusted to care for me and my baby and to ensure that we were safe throughout my labour, did not pick up the warning signs that Jake Junior was in distress is hard for me to accept.

[30][25] The hospital is a popular choice for the births of members of the royal family and of celebrities: examples include Princesses Beatrice[31] and Eugenie,[32] and Prince Archie,[33] as well as David and Victoria Beckham.