Trust at centre of baby death inquiries had highest mortality rate in country

 An NHS trust facing questions over seven preventable baby deaths had the worst 2017 perinatal mortality rate for units with comparable services in England, figures show.

East Kent NHS Foundation Trust has apologised and admitted it has “not always provided the right standard of care” in its maternity services.

The trust is expected to face serious criticism at the conclusion today of an inquest into the death of baby Harry Firchford in 2017. Doctors have told the coroner of panic in the operating theatre during his caesarean delivery.

The child suffered brain damage after a delay of more than 25 minutes in helping him breathe.

A national audit of mortality rates found that in 2017 the trust had the highest perinatal mortality rate – the total of stillbirths and baby deaths within 28 days of birth – of all units with comparable services.

The BBC has highlighted a damning review by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Its report said consultants were failing to carry out labour ward rounds, review women and were rarely attending training on monitoring of babies.

Archie Powell died last February at four days old. Doctors failed to spot he had streptococcus infection and he died after suffering severe brain damage. The trust’s inquiry found his death “potentially avoidable”.

The trust said: “We have been making changes to improve our maternity service for a number of years.

“Every baby and every family is important to us. We recognise that we need to improve the speed of change.”