Shrewsbury Hospital Maternity Report

The BBC has reported on the Shrewsbury Hospital Maternity Report. Read the full report here.

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden’s report following her 5 year investigation identifies major failings in maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust.  It is far worse than imagined says Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.  Mothers and babies died due to repeated failures in maternity care at the hospital.

The report would not have happened had it not been for the determination and courage of the families who campaigned for an enquiry into the injuries and deaths experienced by them during childbirth.  The report examined 1,862 cases and found there was concern in 201 deaths – 131 stillbirths and 70 later deaths.  Many other babies suffered life changing brain injuries.   

Shockingly the report found that some mothers had been blamed for their babies’ deaths.  Mothers’ concerns were ignored and there was ineffective monitory of foetal growth and a culture of reluctance to perform caesarean sections.  This resulted in many babies dying during birth or shortly after.  The report also even found mothers had died who would not have had they been given adequate care.

Ms Ockenden’s report has set out what is needed to bring about change including long term investment to ensure a well-staffed workforce, patient safety specialist for maternity services, patient and family involvement in care and investigations, complaints processes – in all 60 actions for learning and improvement were needed.  These improvements are planned to be extended to include the entire NHS service provided to mothers and babies.

Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors specialise in clinical negligence claims including claims relating to injuries suffered during pregnancy and childbirth.  We are contacted by many families in extreme distress because they need to know what has happened, why it happened and because they don’t want anyone else to go through what they are going through. We regularly advise clients who have received serious untoward incident reports form maternity hospitals and want to understand their options moving forwards.

Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors have a team of experienced lawyers, including a midwife who undertake thorough investigations and where appropriate bring claims for compensation to help the families cope with the injuries they have suffered and access the best possible care they need.

Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors deal with claims for compensation against hospitals (both NHS and Private), dentists, general practitioners, pharmacists and opticians. We have offices in Liverpool City Centre, Allerton and Golders Green, London.We offer a free initial case assessment and No Win No Fee Funding is available. To enquire contact a member of our Medical Negligence new enquiries team on 0151 733 3353, email [email protected] or search GAD legal.