Shrewsbury maternity scandal – catastrophic repeated failures led to deaths

Catastrophic failures at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust (SaTH) may have led to the deaths of over 200 babies and nine mothers, and left other infants with life-changing injuries.

 

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden examined maternity practices at the trust over a 20 year period.  Her report found that babies’ deaths were often not investigated and grieving parents were not listened to, meaning “failures in care were repeated” and some mothers were even blamed for their own deaths.

 

SaTH has apologised to the families affected and described the report as “deeply distressing”.  It added that many changes highlighted by Ms Ockenden had now been introduced.

 

The review, which is thought to be the largest of its kind in the history of the NHS, examined nearly 1,600 cases and revealed that 201 babies could have survived had the trust provided better care.  There were also 29 cases where babies suffered severe brain injuries and 65 incidences of cerebral palsy.

 

In her report, Ms Ockenden cited examines of ineffective monitoring of foetal growth and a culture of reluctance to perform Caesarean sections as repeated problems which “resulted in many babies dying during or shortly after birth.”

 

She added “The reasons for these failures are clear.  There were not enough staff, there was a lack of ongoing training, there was a lack of effective investigation and governance at the trust and a culture of not listening to the families involved.”

 

The report calls for increased funding, accountability and training across maternity services as well as improved post-natal care and care for bereaved families.

 

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 a 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 Freephone 0800 304 7382