Shrewsbury baby deaths inquiry: Now it’s 104 cases

A REVIEW into mother and baby deaths and injuries at a troubled maternity unit is examining more than 100 cases, it emerged last night.

The probe at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust was launched over concerns that dozens of women and babies died needlessly.

When it started last year, it was examining only 23 incidents. But it now involves at least 104 families whose cases span 20 years, according to figures obtained by the Health Service Journal and the BBC.

The trust points out that it has already investigated 35 of these incidents and in 25, found ‘no signs of any failure in care’.

Yet a number of families insist their babies died needlessly because midwives missed treatable infections or complications.

Other women claim they were forced to have natural labours without the use of caesareans or forceps.

Richard Stanton, whose daughter Kate died just six hours after her birth in 2009, said: ‘The trust has buried its head in the sand and what we are seeing now is a tragedy unfolding that is beyond all belief.

‘I think the trust has continually failed to learn and in that situation mothers and babies are going to continue to come to harm.’

He also warned of a ‘culture of denial’

‘We are seeing a tragedy unfolding’

among managers. ‘If this trust wants to redeem any semblance of trust in its maternity services then the widest possible independent review is what is required,’ he added.

Approximately 5,000 women a year give birth in the Shrewsbury and Telford trust’s maternity services, which include a main maternity department and five smaller midwife-led units.

A damning report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, published in July, found the units to be severely understaffed with an average of five midwives off sick each day.

It also warned of a reluctance amongst managers to investigate errors or learn from their mistakes.

The ongoing review is being carried out by Donna Ockenden, a senior independent midwife, and overseen by NHS Improvement, the hospital regulator.

It was initially meant to report back this autumn but is now likely to be delayed as there are so many more cases.

The cases occurred between 2000 and 2017.

Earlier this month the Care Quality Commission, another regulator, took enforcement action against the trust after

From the Mail, August 31 CQC inspectors raised concerns about the A&E units.

Inspectors were particularly worried that staff were failing to diagnose and treat the deadly condition sepsis.

Dr Kathy McLean, executive medical director and chief operating officer at NHS Improvement, said: ‘We are committed to ensuring Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is able to learn as much as it can from the historical cases of concern where women or their babies suffered, or were at risk of, harm or have died.

‘This is so that the trust can improve its maternity and neonatal services and give patients the necessary reassurance that they will receive safe and high quality care at all times.

‘At this stage, we are unable to confirm how many historical cases will be considered under our independent review. We are examining in detail anything that may be relevant, ensuring that possible duplication is taken into account.’

Deirdre Fowler, director of nursing, midwifery and quality at the Shrewsbury and Telford trust, said: ‘We remain committed to providing the best care for all of our patients and to all women and families who use our maternity services.

‘We are continuing to work closely with NHS Improvement and fully engaging and co- operating with their independent review.

‘We welcome the approach of NHS Improvement in considering cases of families who have come forward, including those who were initially referred back to us by them and those who have come forward since.

‘We are committed to learning any lessons that arise from this review to ensure the best care for all of our patients.’