MATERNITY SCANDAL’S STARK LESSON: LISTEN TO PATIENTS

LAST week saw the publication of a long-awaited report into a maternity scandal spanning 20 years at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.

The findings were shocking – among 1,600 cases examined, it found failures that led to more than 200 babies dying, others being left brain-damaged and mothers left begging for help, suffering life-changing injuries or even dying in childbirth.

The midwife who led the review, Donna Ockenden, said there was a reluctance to perform caesareans, assuming that natural birth is better. This is not a historical problem – the same harmful attitude exists among maternity staff across the country now. Her report lists 15 ‘immediate and essential actions’ for improving the safety of pregnant women and newborns.

I hope this marks a sea change in attitudes across maternity units. If anything, the report is a stark reminder that failing to listening to patients’ concerns can have fatal consequences.