Are maternity services enforcing change following independent inquiries into care?
By Hannah Nagle
It has been highlighted in recent news that failings by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust caused parents to watch their one-year-old son die.
From 2000 - 2019 Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust underwent a review by Donna Ockenden, Senior Midwife. The review covered maternity services at the Trust following rising concerns about the care provided. The report found that there were a number of failings, with over 300 cases contributing to still births, deaths, and permanent injuries to babies including brain damage.
Ronnie Jones was born on 26 July, 2020, shortly after the Ockenden review had concluded. He was born at 30-weeks gestation at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford. He sadly suffered severe brain damage causing and other medical conditions, as a result of admitted failings by the Trust. Sadly, Ronnie caught due to his health issues and died on the 1 November 2021.
The couple first went to hospital on 25 July, 2020, where concerns were first raised of reduced movements, but were told the CTG (cardiotocography) trace showed no concerns. Ronnie's mother returned the following day, still concerned. The Trust admitted that there were abnormalities on the second CTG report.
The Trust have also admitted that Ronnie would have been born in “significantly better condition” and would likely not have died if he had been born earlier and avoided some or all of the injuries he sustained.
As a Trainee Solicitor in the medical negligence department at Switalskis, I assist on many cases where there have been failings in maternity care which led to devastating injuries to mothers and babies, including catastrophic injury and death. Ronnie’s parents were aware of the Ockenden report and believed that lessons would have been learnt and did not think that the same thing would happen to them. Sadly, despite investigations and CQC reports of “inadequate” provision, tragedies are still happening as a result of many Trusts still being unable to provide the level of maternity care required.
Within the medical negligence department we represent many families who have experienced failings in maternity services across the UK. We understand that compensation alone cannot alter what has happened. Our solicitors work to make positive changes to help rehabilitate the injured and provide a better future for them, whilst also providing financial support for those affected by loss and bereavement.
At Switalskis we specialise in clinical negligence claims, and are adept at guiding you through the process of making a claim. Our expert solicitors are here to offer you compassionate, clear and concise advice, making sure you're well informed throughout.
We pride ourselves on cutting through the legal jargon and making every step of your claim transparent and understandable. When working with Switalskis , you're partnering with a team invested in securing the best outcome for you. To see how we can help you, please reach out and make contact with us so that we can begin to support you. To see how we can help you, please reach out and make contact with us so that we can begin to support you. Call 0800 138 0458 or email help@switalskis.com
Hannah is a trainee solicitor in our Medical Negligence team, working on a variety of cases.
