Kent Maternity Review
The independent investigation into the East Kent Maternity and neonatal services has sadly revealed that, yet again, maternity wards are failing to provide the care that families need and deserve. The report referred to ‘the harrowing accounts of far too many families’ in the hope of setting out the truth, and leading maternity services to meet the standards expected nationally.
The report highlighted that, had care been given to the nationally recognised standards, the outcome could have been different in 48% of the 202 cases assessed by the Panel. Distressingly, 45 of the 65 baby deaths were avoidable. The report emphasised that these numbers are minimum estimates of the frequency of harm over the period as records were only reviewed if a family had volunteered its story.
The report stated that it did not detect any discernible improvement in outcomes or suboptimal care, as evidenced by the cases assessed over the period from 2009 to 2020. The report identified 8 significant missed opportunities to improve the care since 2009. This suggests that despite the numerous preventable tragedies that occurred over this period, little was done to prevent their reoccurrence.
One of the most shocking findings to arise out of the report was that a culture of tribalism was partly responsible for the avoidable fatalities and injuries. Some staff had acted as if they were responsible for separate fiefdoms, with midwives showing “cliquey behaviour” to the extent that if you were not part of the “in group” you would be chosen to work the more challenging shifts, regardless of ability.
The report also found “that some obstetric consultants expected junior staff and locum doctors to manage clinical problems themselves…and on occasion refused to attend out of hours.” The poor relationships between midwives, junior doctors and obstetric consultants also damaged patient care. One mother, who asked a paediatrician why her baby had died, was told that “if you want to look for blame, you should be looking at the obstetricians not me”; a disturbing insight into the treatment of grieving parents.
Reports advocating change have followed after each of the maternity ward inquiries since the inquiry into Ely Hospital in 1967–69. However, such reports seem to have failed to prevent similar events from recurring in different maternity units across the country. The report on Kent therefore attempted to take a simpler approach, identifying just four key points that should be addressed to improve maternity services. These were that the Trust needed to identify poorly performing units; give care with compassion and kindness; encourage teamwork with a common purpose; and respond to challenges with honesty.
This investigation, instigated not by the NHS Trust, but by the families themselves, has revealed yet more failings within maternity units in the UK. This year we have already heard of similar issues in the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS trust, and an inquiry has recently begun into the maternity units in Nottingham University Hospitals. The report has thus called for the NHS not to create further “meaningless league tables”, but to tackle the issues head on, addressing the failing approach to maternity care that unnecessarily caused the deaths of so many babies.
To read the full report visit: East Kent Maternity & Neonatal Services Investigation
Medical Negligence in Maternity and Neonatal Care
Morrish Solicitors is a well-established law firm based in West Yorkshire. We have a highly qualified and experienced team of Medical Negligence Solicitors who have represented and continues to represents families affected by birth injuries at NHS Trusts.
We can offer specialist support and legal advice for families affected by issues in maternity and neonatal care at East Kent.
Recently, our medical negligence team secured £4.2m settlement for boy who was injured during his birth at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
If you or your child have suffered negligent mistakes made by medical professionals at East Kent, please contact our experience medical negligence experts on 033 3344 9613 or simply email [email protected] with your request.
We offer a free 30-minute consultation where we will go through the details of your potential birth injury claim and discuss the funding options available to you.
