Maternity concerns at Kent baby death NHS trust

Hospital inspectors have raised safety concerns over maternity care at an NHS trusts where dozens of babies appear to have died unnecessarily.

 

The Care Quality Commission is warning of enforcement action against the East Kent Hospitals trust to ensure patients are protected.

 

An independent review last year found that at least 45 babies might have survived had they received better care at the trust.

 

Inspectors carried out an unannounced inspection of the trust’s maternity services over two days last week.  Following the visit, the CQC has now written to the trust “to request evidence of the steps it is taking to ensure people are safe and protected from risk.”

 

An independent review found the trust had “covered up” the extent of its failures at two of the hospitals it runs, the William Harvey in Ashford and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in Margate.

 

Sarah Shingler, chief nursing and midwifery officer and deputy chief executive of East Kent NHS, said “We continue to work hard to improve our maternity services, including our work to listen to and act on feedback from those using our care.  Although a number of changes have been made, we know there is a lot more to do.

 

“While the CQC recognised some of the improvements as a consequence of that work, they also identified some areas of concern following their inspection last week.

 

“We are taking immediate action to respond to the CQC and address these concerns to ensure we are delivering the high-quality care we and our patients expect.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record.  The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence.  He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims.  Tony also acts as a Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled.  Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk.  Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win, no fee solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 304 7382