Hunt: Hold inquests on stillbirths

HEALTH Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said he wants to change the law to allow coroners to investigate stillbirths.

Britain has one of the highest stillbirth rates in the developed world at more than 3,000 a year.

But campaigners fear lessons are not being learned because hospitals are failing to uncover their own mistakes.

It comes after a coroner yesterday gave a conclusion of neglect for a baby’s death. Laura Monks and Peter Winrow’s son Rueben was recorded as stillborn at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan in November 2011, meaning no inquest was required. But the couple hired solicitors and NHS bosses later admitted responsibility over the botched birth.

Coroner John Pollard yesterday said the baby died following ‘significant failings’ and could have survived if he had been delivered more quickly.

The hospital said services had improved since then.