11
Sep 2018
New evidence uncovered in investigations into maternity deaths and injuries
An investigation into suspicious incidents at Shrewsbury NHS Trust has revealed that more than 60 babies and mothers either lost their lives or came to serious harm at Shrewsbury and Telford maternity unit between 1998 and 2017.
The investigation initially began into 23 suspicious incidents at the trust, but this number has now almost trebled to an estimated 63. The new cases were uncovered by Health Service Journal, revealed during an internal review carried out by the trust.
As well as investigating the deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth, it has emerged that many babies suffered lifelong harm and injury as a result of foetal heart rates not being monitored properly.
Experts now believe that the failings at the trust could be more significant than those at the Morecambe Baby Hospital Trust, where 16 mothers and babies died over a period of 12 years.
Dr Kathy McLean, executive medical director at NHS Improvement, said “Our independent review will consider everything it can to ensure Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is equipped to learn from the previous failings in its maternity and neonatal services.
“This includes continuing to examine the 23 historical investigations identified in April 2017, as well as investigations that have been highlighted since then.
“Working with CQC and others, we will ensure the trust has the right support in place to improve it’s services for patients.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Health said “We take any patient safety concerns extremely seriously. We have asked NHS Improvement to investigate whether further cases at Shrewsbury and Telford should be considered as part of the Ockenden Review, as well as assurance that the trust has taken steps to improve maternity services since these issues came to light in 2016.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.
Freephone: 0800 304 7382
For further information, please see our cerebral palsy and birth injury website:
http://www.cerebralpalsyclaimssolicitors.co.uk
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