Childbirth is STILL not safe for mothers in England says author of report into 'systemic' failings

The author of a report into Britain's worst maternity scandal said pregnant women will not be safe to give birth until her full raft of recommendations are implemented. Rhiannon Davies embraces Kayleigh Griffiths, following the release of the final report by Donna Ockenden, chair of the Independent Review into Maternity Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Donna Ockenden, chair of the Independent Review into Maternity Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, presented her devastating report yesterday In one case the Care Quality Commission, which regulates the NHS in England, had even rated the maternity ward at the Trust as 'good'. The report found that: One in four of the 498 stillbirths reviewed had 'significant or major concerns' over the maternity care given; There were 29 cases where babies suffered severe brain injuries and 65 cases of cerebral palsy; Twelve deaths of mothers were investigated, none of whom received care in line with best practice at the time; Some women were blamed for their own deaths, while incidents that should have triggered a serious incident investigation were 'inappropriately downgraded'; Midwifery staff were 'overly confident' in their abilities, and there was a reluctance to involve more senior staff; Families were locked out of reviews when things went wrong and were often treated without compassion; The trust repeatedly failed to adequately monitor babies' heart rates, with catastrophic results, and did not use drugs properly during labour; Leaders and midwives were determined to keep caesarean section rates low – consistently 8 per cent to 12 per cent below national averages; There were 'significant staffing and training gaps' and 'medical staff rotas have been overstretched throughout'; One staffer described the department as the 'Republic of Maternity' and suggested it did not like being overseen by management. Kayleigh Griffiths wipes her eyes as she holds the Ockenden report at The Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hotel, Shropshire Colin and Kayleigh Griffiths, Rhiannon Davies and Richard Stanton with a copy of the Donna Ockenden Independent Review into Maternity Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Chelsey Campbell, Carley McKee, Colin Griffiths, Fiona Carr, Charlotte Cheshire, Rhiannon Davies, Richard Stanton, Kayleigh Griffiths, Donna Ockenden, Nicky Lauder, David Boylett, Hayley Matthews, Steph Hotchkiss, Julie Rawlings, Neil Rawlings and Sonia Leigh stand with the final Ockenden report Maddison was delivered stillborn the following day, weighing 6lb 14oz. Mr Javid yesterday apologised to the families who had suffered 'unimaginable trauma' and said the Government accepted the report's findings in full Tory MP Jeremy Hunt, who commissioned the Ockenden Review as health secretary in 2017, admitted its findings 'go beyond my darkest fears' The chief executive of the trust said that she was confident its services were now safe for families.