PUT PARENTS AT HEART OF DEATH PROBE
Maternity failings ‘could be criminal’
HUNDREDS of bereaved parents caught up the biggest maternity scandal in the history of the NHS are expected to be part of a police investigation.
Dozens of babies and several mums died amid major failings at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust between 1979 and 2017.
More than 1,200 families who received potentially negligent care have been emailed after a criminal probe was launched on Tuesday.
Kelly Jones, 33, whose twin babies died in her womb in 2014 due to failings at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has spoken to police.
She said she “begged” medics to prioritise her for a C-section before losing Ella and Lola Greene at 36 weeks.
They allegedly failed to act despite heart monitors suggesting they were in danger. She said: “This is going to be a very long investigation. “I’ve already been approached by police for the evidence I have on the hospital.” She claimed: “The Trust has lied throughout this whole process.” Richard Stanton and Rhiannon Davies lost baby Kate in 2009 when she was six hours old. An inquest found her death was avoidable. Richard said of the police probe this week: “This is something that is so dear to us, to finally get accountability for Kate.”
Top midwife Donna Ockenden is leading a separate probe into the Trust. She wrote to families: “I would just like to reassure you that this development should not affect progress with our independent review.” Families are also encouraged to contact West Mercia Police to be part of their investigation, which could see medics face prosecution or a possible corporate manslaughter charge for the Trust.
Ms Ockenden’s initial findings and recommendations will be published this year. A full review is due in 2021. Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust chief executive Louise Barnett said: “We are aware that a police investigation will be conducted to explore whether there is evidence to support a criminal case in relation to maternity services and provision.
“We will fully co-operate. We are not able to comment further to avoid prejudicing the investigation.”