The chilling echoes of Morecambe Bay

THE scandal at Shrewsbury and Telford is feared to be even worse than at University Hospitals Morecambe Bay in Cumbria.

Up to three mothers and 16 babies are feared to have died at the trust from 2004 to 2016.

A report into the scandal pinned the blame on a group of ‘dysfunctional’ midwives who referred to themselves as the ‘musketeers’ and were obsessed with pursuing natural childbirth ‘at any cost’.

One victim was Joshua Titcombe who died in November 2008 aged just nine days from a preventable infection. His father James Titcombe is now a patient safety campaigner who was awarded an OBE in 2015 for his services towards improving care.

Three midwives, Jeanette Parkinson, Marie Ratcliffe and Lindsey Biggs, were struck off.

A report by the Professional Standards Authority earlier this year accused the Nursing and Midwifery Council of ignoring concerns of families and police.

The nursing watchdog was criticised for being more intent on protecting nurses’ reputations.