More than HALF of NHS maternity units fail to meet safety standards

Regulators have expressed 'deep concerns' about the quality of care mothers and babies receive in hospital after maternity services deteriorated to their worst ever level. Sarah and Tom Richford with their son Harry who died seven days after he was born in November 2017 at the QEQM Bex Walton, who lost her son Tommy when he was two days old, said: 'Sorry is not good enough' The mother said she would 'never be able to forgive' after losing her son Tommy East Kent is the latest in a long line of maternity scandals, including at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Morecambe Bay and the upcoming review of services in Nottingham, which is expected to be highly critical. From insolent staff to bosses in denial, probe lays bare baby ward failures The independent inquiry into maternity services at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust heard 'harrowing' accounts from families. Mothers are convinced that failures in treatment at the QEQM hospital led to the death of their children Tracey Fletcher, Chief Executive of East Kent Hospitals providing a statement following the publishing of Dr Bill Kirkup's report into failings in maternity care and treatment of mothers and babies at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust Shelley, from Dover, had her first inkling something wasn't right at 36 weeks pregnant when she woke and realised baby Tallulah-Rai wasn't moving as much as normal. Pictured here is the Trust's William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent From probing the 1989 Hillsborough disaster to how Jimmy Savile was able to sexually abuse Broadmoor patients: How Dr Bill Kirkup - leading the review into the failings at East Kent Hospitals Trust - is no stranger to huge inquiries Dr Bill Kirkup was tasked with investigating dozens of avoidable baby deaths at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.