A woman was administered drugs taken from a dustbin while giving birth.

Jane McGuinness, 38, was given the anaesthetic prior to having an epidural at Whipps Cross Hospital while giving birth to her first daughter, Caitlin, in August.

Thinking the anaesthetic was rubbish, it was thrown into a waste bin by an anaesthetist's assistant, but later taken out of the bin by the anaesthetist and given to Mrs McGuinness.

The seal on the anaesthetic had not been broken when it was in the rubbish bin, but Whipps Cross said normal procedure in such circumstances is to use a new one.

Mrs McGuinness' husband Scott, 41, who lives with his wife in Sunset Avenue, Chingford, said: “We discussed at length the choice of maternity unit for having our child and, despite some negative reports from friends, decided that Whipps Cross Hospital should be our choice as it was our local hospital and we were big believers in supporting our local NHS service.”

But Mr McGuinness said the treatment the couple received at the the Leytonstone hospital was "appalling".

He said his wife lost seven pints of blood during and after the operation, two of which went unnoticed and caused her to lose consciousness when the pair were left alone with Caitlin shortly after the birth – a period when new mothers, and women who haemorrhaged over 1 litre, should be monitored.

The hospital says post-partum haemorrhaging occurs in around five per cent of births and that Mrs McGuinness’ birth had presented a higher risk of bleeding due to the baby presenting brow-first.

She subsequently spent more than two weeks in intensive care and the high dependency unit.

Mr McGuinness was was also told it was normal practice when asked to change in a public washroom before entering the theatre where his wife was later undergoing an emergency caesarean.

While changing, his trousers were soiled by urine which had not been cleaned from the floor.

The vice principal of Drapers’ Academy in Romford, added: “We could not feel more let down. The treatment we received was appalling. The lack of care, shortage of staffing and filthy conditions resulted in a routine operation becoming a life-threatening situation. “

He said he and his wife have lost faith in the NHS.

Following inspections in May and June the hospital was found to have a “systematic catalogue of failings” in care and hygiene standards with specific references made to the maternity ward.

Barts Health recently placed itself in voluntary financial ‘turnaround’ in order to address debts of nearly £80m.

A Barts health spokeswoman said in a statement that the trust is extremely sorry for the circumstances surrounding the birth.

The incidents are being reviewed and mum, dad and baby are well at home.