Labour MP demands explanation on why CQC 'slipped out' second damaging review into its investigations
John Woodcock is representing families who lost children at a scandal-hit hospital
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The NHS watchdog must explain why it “slipped out” a second damaging review into its investigations, the MP representing families who lost children at a scandal-hit hospital has said.
Labour MP John Woodcock has written to the Care Quality Commission after The Independent exposed a report, published quietly in January, that raised concerns over the role played by NHS executives in an alleged cover-up over baby deaths at the Furness General Hospital.
In a letter to the CQC's chief executive David Behan, Mr Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness, wrote: “In the current climate, your decision to publish this report on your website apparently without any form of press release or notification of local stakeholders has already aroused damaging suspicion that this may have been another attempt to bury findings that could have shown the organisation in a bad light.”
The report, by consultancy firm Deloitte, has come to light in the wake of allegations that the CQC attempted to cover-up a damning internal review of its regulation of the hospital, part of the Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.
A CQC spokesman said that the report had been flagged up to “interested parties”, adding that Mr Behan would reply to Mr Woodcock in person.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments