Watchdog ignored calls over midwives scandal

A NURSING watchdog ignored police warnings about midwives at a scandal-hit hospital for almost two years, a damning report revealed yesterday.

At least one mother and 11 babies died at Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Cumbria, between 2004 and 2013.

But a review showed the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) did not act on information from police officers for nearly 24 months.

And it took eight years between the first complaint to the council and the last “fit to practise” hearing.

The shocking delay allowed midwives, who were later suspended or struck off, to continue to practise unhindered.

The report, carried out by the Professional Standards Authority, said at least another death and two “untoward” incidents happened under the care of midwives who were already under investigation after 2013. It is not certain the three incidents could have been prevented but “avoidable deaths” happened while the NMC was considering complaints.

An inquiry in 2015 blamed a “lethal mix” of failures at the hospital, part of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, including midwives obsessed with natural childbirth.

The review found mishandling of bereaved families, poor records and delayed investigations. It found The NMC appeared to have taken no action for two years.

PSA chief executive Harry Cayton said: “What happened remains shocking and the tragic deaths of babies and mothers should never have happened.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “We cannot bring back loved ones who have been lost because of what went wrong but we can make sure families never have to go through the same agony.”