Hospital probe after five pregnant women die
AN investigation is to be launched into a Birmingham hospital after the deaths of five pregnant women.
NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust will investigate the deaths, two of which happened within the space of the past four months.
The trust incorporates two main hospital sites but babies are delivered solely at City Hospital in Birmingham as Sandwell General in West Bromwich doesn’t have a maternity ward.
Chief executive Toby Lewis launched the investigation in a bid “to learn from these tragedies”.
The probe will last two months and the families of the women will be supported throughout, he added.
The trust said it could not provide more details on the deaths as the investigations remained at an early stage.
Mr Lewis said: “Over the next two months we will also complete exploratory investigative work into five maternal deaths over the past 18 months.
“This work will frame any external advice we commission to help to understand what we can learn from these tragedies, of which two have occurred over the last four months.
“Both the families affected, and our own employees, are being provided with support.”
Chief nurse Paula Gardner said: “It is always very sad when anyone dies in our care and we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those affected.
“As with all serious incidents, an internal investigation is carried out into why they occurred.
“The chief executive and I will then commission external advice to support the trust and the maternity team to learn for the future.
“By being open has happened, we about what believe that local people should retain confidence in the integrity of the organisation’s commitment to safety and quality.
“We have also ensured that the families affected and our employees have been given bereavement support following these tragic cases.”
The trust was rated “requires improvement” after its most recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in March 2017.
England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals told the trust it must improve, citing concerns surrounding staff shortages and poor care planning.