Families win bid for independent inquiry into maternity safety at scandal-hit NHS trust

Family of baby Harry Richford, who died as a result of neglect and avoidable errors at East Kent Hospitals University Trust, welcomes investigation

An independent inquiry has been ordered by ministers into poor maternity care at East Kent Hospitals University Trust.

It follows a number of deaths of babies and more than 130 infants suffering brain injuries during birth at the trust – where serious concerns were raised in 2015 but not acted on.

Separately, a national investigation into delays delivering babies who are in distress has been launched by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch which said it was concerned the issue was leading to deaths and brain injuries.

Speaking to MPs on Thursday Nadine Dorries, patient safety minister, said “immediate action” was being taken at the trust but that the inquiry would be commissioned by NHS England to examine cases of poor care.

The review will be led by Dr Bill Kirkup, who also chaired the investigation into the Morecambe Bay maternity scandal five years ago which raised concerns about maternity services nationally.

NHS England said the inquiry will look at preventable and avoidable deaths of newborn babies to ensure the trust learns lessons and to make recommendations for improved care in other maternity services.

Dr Kirkup, a former obstetrician and gynaecologist, said: “I was greatly saddened to hear of the events in East Kent. We need to understand how they came about to ensure things are put right, and I hope to meet with the families to begin this.”

A similar inquiry at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust has uncovered hundreds of alleged poor care cases.

The family of baby Harry Richford, who died as a result of neglect at the trust, told The Independent they were delighted an inquiry would be held but said they would be watching its progress closely.

Derek Richford, Harry’s grandfather, said he wanted to be involved in setting the terms of the inquiry, adding: “If it’s historical we need to know what that means. It needs to go back at least five years if not longer.”

He added that Harry’s parents Tom and Sarah Richford were determined to ensure a full public inquiry remained an option.

Harry died seven days after his emergency delivery in what a coroner said was a “wholly avoidable” tragedy. A number of other families have also spoken out over their poor care.

The trust’s chief executive Susan Acott was criticised by families after giving an interview to the BBC in which she acknowledged only a handful of poor care cases and claimed she had only seen a 2015 report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which raised serious concerns about the trust, in December last year.

Derek Richford said the interview made it clear “changes at the top of the board were needed” and that Ms Acott’s comments “showed us that the scale of what is happening at the trust is just not understood”.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Dorries confirmed an independent review would be carried out.

She said: “NHS England and NHS Improvement are commissioning themselves an independent review into East Kent maternity services.”

In a written statement she added: “From the findings provided to me, it is clear that the challenges at East Kent point to a range of issues including having the right staff with the right skills in the right place, effective multi-disciplinary working, clear collaborative working between midwives and doctors, good communication and effective leadership support.

“But it would be wrong to speculate that there is one single cause.”

Ms Dorries said an expert clinical team had been sent to the trust, including a director of midwifery services from an outstanding trust, two consultant obstetricians and consultant paediatrician and neonatologist. She said this placed “the very best at the heart of the trust”.

“We never will be complacent, and I can confirm to the House that I have had assurance from the Care Quality Commission that they are content that the trust is taking the issues identified seriously and has a genuine desire to make the necessary improvements.”

In a statement East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust “wholeheartedly” apologised to “every one of those families we have let down”.

It added: “We know that we have not always provided the standard of care for every woman and baby that they expected and deserved, and wholeheartedly apologise to every one of those families we have let down.

“We are taking all necessary steps to provide safe care and we are treating the recently raised concerns about the safety of our service with the utmost seriousness and urgency.”