A DONCASTER mum gave birth in a police station car park hours after she says she was sent home from hospital when staff said her labour had not started.
Lynn Gillespie, aged 29, says staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary told her to leave and she went back to her home in Carcroft - only to be bundled into a car just hours later to go back to hospital.
But Lynn's waters broke on route to the hospital and she was forced to make an unscheduled stop at Cusworth police station.
Scenes of crime officers - who are more used to dealing with deaths than births - leapt into action when the car pulled up outside the police station on York Road, Doncaster.
Lynn's husband Alec Gillespie burst in to the station and shouted: "Come quick, my wife is giving birth."
Police staff Elaine Skelton, Hayley Henderson and DC Julian Dobson grabbed some latex gloves and ran outside to assist and 10 minutes later Harmony Grace was born, weighing 8lb 3oz.
The trio had found Lynn lying on the back seat of a friend's Vauxhall Corsa in the advanced stages of labour after travelling from the family home in Paxton Avenue, Carcroft.
Mum Lynn says she believes hospital staff should never have asked her to return home.
A spokesman for the hospital said no complaint had been received and added: "We are very sorry that Mrs Gillespie was disappointed with the care we provided.
"When she makes a complaint we will carry out a full investigation and let her know what our findings are and what lessons we have learnt for the future."
Lynn says she recognised the signs of labour from giving birth to two other daughters.
She said: "I got in the car at 2.15pm, my waters broke as we drove past Ringways garage at 2.30pm and Harmony was born at 2.45pm.
"I went to hospital with Harmony and Alec went home to get our car so he could join me. It had always been our action plan to stop at the police station if we had to and I'm so grateful for the staff there - they did a fantastic job."
Elaine sat with Lynn helping her to control her breathing and encouraging her to push. Hayley reassured and encouraged her while Julian quickly grabbed several towels and took care of Alec, who was looking very pale as the drama unfolded.
The baby's head appeared just as the paramedics were pulling into the car park and they promptly took over and successfully delivered her.
The paramedic handed the baby to Hayley who wrapped her in a dressing gown to keep her warm, while Elaine and the paramedics helped Lynn out of the car and onto the ambulance trolley.
The grateful couple returned to Cusworth police station the following day to give staff cards and chocolates.
Elaine said: "It's a first for us. It was a change from doing the nasty things in our job.
"We usually deal with people leaving this world so it was nice to help someone arrive."
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