17
Sep 2019
Maternity deaths probe into Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals
A report has found that ‘best practice’ was not always adhered to, in relation to the deaths of five women whose maternity care was overseen by the same hospital trust.
The trust, which incorporates two acute sites where their maternity services are based, have said that although there had been no evidence that the deaths were preventable, it was working towards an improvement in services, adding that two of the five cases “may give rise to lessons”.
Although the report does not refer to causes of the deaths, it provides a broad overview of some of the circumstances, including occurrences of Amniotic Fluid Embolus (AFE), a rare emergency in childbirth in which the amniotic fluid enters the blood, causing major bleeding.
Paula Gardner, chief nurse of the trust, said “In four of the cases, the reviewers found no practice that would have impacted on the outcome.
“In one case, the urgent actions of the team were commended as they fought to save the life of the woman and her unborn child, and it is not possible to determine whether earlier treatment of severe bleeding could have made a difference to the outcome.”
She went on to say that whilst no evidence of preventable death had been highlighted in the report, “in order to provide the best care possible”, the trust would adopt measures to “improve the maternity services further.”
The report recommended that the trust change their method of dealing with postpartum haemorrhage – excessive bleeding within the first 24 hours following childbirth – and ‘mapping out’ the care journey for high-risk patients.
A spokesperson for NHS Improvement and NHS England said the investigation had been “robust and comprehensive” and was assured the trust had taken recommendations seriously.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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