Cornwall 'already responding to recommendations' after NHS's worst maternity scandal
The Ockenden report sparked a nationwide review of services including at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Last updated 5th Apr 2022
We are being assured Cornwall is already responding to recommendations following the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history.
Last week the Ockenden report revealed hundreds of babies died at a hospital trust in Shropshire, due to "repeated failures".
The report, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, was set up following the deaths of newborn babies and mums at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust. They occurred mostly between 2000 and 2019.
It found mothers and babies died or suffered major injuries due to "repeated failures" at the NHS trust.
The report says Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust presided over catastrophic failings for 20 years - and did not learn from its own inadequate investigations - which led to babies being stillborn, dying shortly after birth or being left severely brain damaged.
Several mothers died after failings in care, while others were made to have natural births when they should have been offered a Caesarean.
Injuries for some babies included skull fractures, broken bones or they developed cerebral palsy after traumatic forceps deliveries, while others were starved of oxygen and experienced life-changing brain injuries.
The report has sparked a nationwide review of services including at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.
Bosses here say they strive to provide kind, compassionate and safe care to all women and families.
RCHT Maternity Services and Kernow Maternity Voices Partnership posted on Facebook:
"We recognise the findings of the Ockenden review into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford may be a difficult read for many parents and pregnant people. We want to offer our support and to reassure you that our services here in Cornwall, have already been responding to the recommendations the review has made for services across the country.
"Becoming pregnant and giving birth are life changing events that are remembered forever. We will always do everything we can, to give you all the support and guidance you need.
"We strive to provide kind, compassionate, and safe care to all women, pregnant people and their families using our services; our maternity teams are here to do this. We hope you will always feel listened to and supported throughout your pregnancy but if you have any concerns at any time, please let us know so we can work together to get things right for you.
"Our maternity services work closely with our Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) to ensure your voices and views are being heard and service users are involved in decisions, as well as promoting openness and honesty in the way our maternity services are delivered. We will continue to work together to put in place the changes asked of us from the Ockenden findings."
You can talk to the MVP to share your feedback and experience anonymously, please fill in the experience survey or you can contact the team directly with any concerns or questions.
For any medical concerns about your pregnancy, please speak to your midwife, or in an emergency call our 24 hour triage line on 01872 258000.
Angela Bellamy Deputy Head of Midwifery RCHT - angela.bellamy1@nhs.net
Nicki Burnett Chair Kernow Maternity Voices Partnership - nicola.burnett5@nhs.net
Websites - https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/serv.../maternity-services/
https://www.healthwatchcornwall.co.uk/maternity-voices
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KernowMVP
Experience survey - www.oc-meridian.com/OCQ/u/RCHT188Mat