Shrewsbury maternity scandal: ‘Unimaginable trauma’ caused, says Javid as report details avoidable baby deaths

The trauma for our families doesn’t just stop now that the report is out. On the contrary – we are exhausted. The fight that we’ve had to endure to get to this point has taken everything out of us. We’ve needed it to come to an end for our own mental health, our own sanity.

It is heartbreaking to have gone through the death of a child, but then to realise that other families have gone through the same – despite all that should’ve been learned – is devastating.

We’ve heard the same, empty “sorrys”, time and time again – but saying sorry is not going to bring back our children.

Kate Stanton-Davies and Pippa Griffiths both lost their babies at Shrewsbury maternity hospital, in 2009 and 2016 respectively. Now they are calling on the NHS to “undergo heavy-duty scrutiny”.

There words are available to read in full here:

One of the key findings of the Ockenden report was that the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust failed to learn from their mistakes.

Richard Stanton and Rhiannon Davies, who have campaigned for years over the poor care, lost their daughter Kate hours after her birth in March 2009.

The trust noted her death but described it as a “no harm” event, although an inquest jury later ruled Kate’s death could have been avoided. The trust still insisted its care had been in line with national guidelines.

In her final report, Ms Ockenden said there was evidence of poor investigation into the deaths of two other babies, Joshua and Thomas, who died within the same year before Kate in similar circumstances.

She said there was a lack of transparency and a “lost opportunity” to prevent further baby deaths occurring.

Another couple who have led the campaign for safer care are Kayleigh and Colin Griffiths, whose daughter Pippa died in 2016 from a Group B Strep infection. A year later, a coroner ruled her death could have been avoided.

A spregnancy charity has welcomed the Ockenden report but said there is still more to do, adding “safe maternity care isn’t an ambition, it’s a right.”

Heidi Eldridge, CEO at MAMA Academy, said: “Donna Ockenden’s review is a painstakingly thorough investigation and has highlighted a number of immediate and essential actions to improve maternity services across the entire country.

“It is clear from this review that there is plenty of work still to do, and we must all redouble our efforts to achieve the changes outlined in today’s report.

“This report highlights the need for increased funding, a properly resourced workforce, protected opportunities for staff to train – particularly on critical aspects of safety, and robust, timely investigations when things go wrong, making sure lessons are properly learnt so that mistakes aren’t repeated.

“Today we hold in our thoughts the many families and babies whose experiences have contributed to the Ockenden Review, and other families up and down the land who have experienced tragic outcomes. This report will be particularly difficult for them to hear, and whilst this journey to maternity safety is not an easy one to take, it is a road we have to travel.”

Maternity expert Donna Ockenden, who led the damning report into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said women’s voices “must be heard”.

Asked if there was a concern that Nottingham or East Kent could become the “the next Shrewsbury“, Ms Ockenden told the PA news agency: “So I think that what every trust needs to do now is take hold of the immediate and essential actions and make sure that they robustly assess themselves against that roadmap, against that blueprint.

“Staff should speak up if they’ve got concerns.

“I think what is also important is to say to mothers who may be having a baby today, tomorrow, next week, next month, is that if you have concerns, speak out, speak up.

“Don’t feel worried about the maternity care that you might be having currently, or you’re going to have in the near future.

“Women’s voices will be heard and must be heard.

The Ockenden report has raised 15 areas for “immediate and essential action” to improve care and safety in maternity services across England.

Areas such as safe staffing, escalation and accountability, clinical governance and robust support for families have all been included as “must dos” by maternity expert Donna Ockenden in the 234-page document.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust have also been handed 60 local actions for learning, in light of care received by 1,486 families.