Scandal-hit maternity trust invites patients’ feedback

A hospital trust where critical maternity failings may have led to the deaths of hundreds of babies is asking patients to get in touch about ways to improve services.

Last month, Donna Ockenden, the senior midwife behind the inquiry into the scandal in Shropshire said Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust had ignored families who had been affected.

In 2022, having uncovered multiple episodes of flawed care dating back years, the Ockenden report found the deaths of over 200 babies could be linked to failures at the trust.

The request to patients was made in a letter written by chief executive Louise Barnett, which stated the trust recognised it did not provide some families with the information and contact they would have liked.

The letter continued “I am sorry to those of you we have let down, as that has never been our intention, and we would like to address this.”

Ms Barnett said the trust had been in contact with many families covered in the maternity review, as well as those who were not, and encouraged other people to get in touch.

“We genuinely wish to engage with families more so that we can learn and improve further, and we are exploring more ways to do this better.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s Legal 500 recommended West Yorkshire medical negligence solicitors and birth injury solicitors, have over 20 years of experience and specialist expertise in medical negligence investigations and claims, including cerebral palsy claims and other birth injury claims, supporting injured clients and their families through the legal process and helping them obtain answers, justice and compensation after life-changing events.  We have offices in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Leeds, Bradford and Morley and represent clients locally and nationally.

If you or a relative have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence lawyers on the freephone number below or e-mail us.

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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