East Kent Maternity Services Still Failing Families

A BBC investigation has found that maternity services at East Kent Hospital NHS Trust are still affected by problems.

An independent review, led by Dr Bill Kirkup, into the Trust’s maternity services from 2009 to 2020, was launched following the deaths of up to 15 babies at the Trust. It is due to be published this week.

The report reviewed up to 200 cases involving mothers and babies.

A series of failings emerged during the Inquest in relation to the death of baby Harry Richford in 2017. He died just seven days after his birth and the Inquest found that his death was “wholly avoidable”. The Trust was fined £733,000 for failing to provide safe care and treatment for baby Harry and his mother.

His family has since campaigned for answers.

The independent review by Dr Kirkup has examined the circumstances of maternity deaths at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate, and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

It has been reported that in an email to staff last month, the Chief Executive of the Trust warned that the report would make “harrowing” reading and would have a “profound” impact on families and colleagues.

Continuing problems

BBC News has learned from families and also seen concerns from staff, which suggest that there are continuing problems with maternity care at the Trust. This includes trainee midwives being left unsupervised, and consultants not responding to problems reported by junior doctors.

The Royal College of Midwives says that there is a shortage of more than 2,000 midwives in England, and this is clearly causing problems for maternity services across the country.

However, the head of research at maternity charity Baby Lifeline, Sara Ledger, told the BBC that East Kent Trust can do more to improve its maternity services. She said:

The BBC reports that a UK-wide survey of trainee doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology by the General Medical Council shows quite the damning picture of East Kent Trust, particularly in relation to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. In particular:

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for East Kent Hospitals, Sarah Shingler, apologised “unreservedly to every family we have failed.” She said:

Comment

Sadly, reports of failings in maternity services across the UK have continued to come to light over the last couple of years. It is very clearly a significant problem requiring action as soon as possible.

However, most worrying of all is that these issues are well-known and improvements have been promised across the board, but it is clear that this just isn’t happening fast enough. It is unacceptable that mothers and babies continue to be put at risk through failings in maternity care which ought to be avoidable.

The families awaiting the report into East Kent have been waiting for answers, and it is likely to be very difficult and traumatic for them to read the report this week.

It has to be a top priority for the Trust to take this report and make immediate improvements wherever possible. Staff shortages aside, it seems that there is plenty the Trust can be doing to set the path for long-term improvements, which will only increase if staffing issues can be resolved. They have to act now and do so in the name of all those babies and families who have failed along the way.