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Investigation into avoidable deaths of 7 babies at negligent NHS trust (18 April 2017)

Date: 18/04/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Investigation into avoidable deaths of 7 babies at negligent NHS trust

The Health Secretary has launched an investigation into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS trust after it has been found that a series of new-born deaths could have been avoided.

A failure to proper monitor foetal heart rates was found to be a central factor in five out of the seven cases being investigated.

In 2014 twins Ella and Lola Greene were stillborn after the trust failed to properly read their heart rates. In 2015, Kye Hall and Graham Scott Holmes-Smith died after the foetal heart rate was not properly monitored. Ivy Morris was born 10 days after Graham Scott-Holmes and died 4 months later – the coroner ruled that, again, if proper heart monitoring had taken place the death could have been avoided.

Maternity services at the NHS Trust had already been criticised in an enquiry into the death of Kate Stanton-Davies, a baby girl who died in the care of the trust in 2009. Her mother commented:

“Look at the failings, learn from them, move on. To not do that, they haven’t just killed my daughter, but they have disregarded the value of her life, her memory”.

Subsequent investigations have found that there is a “lack of a safety culture” in the maternity unit and that staff had not been held accountable for the failings over Kate’s death and no lessons had been learned and incorporated into practice moving forward.

The Department of Health commented:

“Earlier this year, the health secretary asked NHS regulators to undertake an investigation at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS trust in light of disclosures that in a number of tragic cases standards of care fell far below those that parents would expect”

Divya Anand, Solicitor in the Clinical Negligence Department at Duncan Lewis states:

“It is worrying to hear that there were 7 avoidable deaths between 2014 and 2016 and an investigation has now been launched into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. It is inexcusable for there to be failures to correctly interpret and monitor foetal heart rates particularly as this is something which all staff members should be conscious of avoiding. Sadly, these failures have become far too common in this particular Trust and an investigation has been launched. We hope lessons are learnt.”

Divya Anand,is a solicitor in the Clinical Negligence Department at Duncan Lewis. Divya is able to assist those who have suffered a serious and debilitating injury as a result of substandard care provided by a GP, doctor, or other medical staff.

Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors

The Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence team has significant experience acting in a vast array of claims including accident and emergency failures, GP negligence claims, misdiagnosed fractures and other medical conditions and wrongful death claims. They also act for children and adults who have suffered profound and permanent brain, spinal or neurological injuries and associated disabilities as a consequence of failings in medical care in both NHS and private hospitals. If you believe your doctor has made a mistake and wish to claim compensation or have any questions about treatment you have received, please do not hesitate to contact our team of specialist clinical negligence solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

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