
Maternity care failings that were first exposed in scandal-hit hospitals are now becoming more common across England, according to the NHS regulator.
Investigations at hospitals in Shrewsbury, Telford, and East Kent found that poor care may have led to the deaths of babies and life-changing injuries.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) warns that these issues are appearing in other hospitals as well. Its review of 131 NHS maternity units found problems with staffing, equipment, and safety management, warning that preventable harm may be becoming “normalised.”
Blame Cultures and Safety Concerns
The CQC’s 16-month investigation highlighted issues such as staffing shortages, with inexperienced nurses taking on critical tasks, and equipment failures like non-functional call bells. Notably, 48% of units were rated as inadequate or needing improvement, with 65% failing in safety. The review also uncovered delays in emergency Caesareans and inadequate access to facilities, contributing to low morale and blame cultures among staff.
In a separate investigation, care issues at the Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital were linked to over 150 baby deaths. The ongoing review into maternity failings in Nottingham is now the largest in NHS history, involving nearly 2,000 families.
Impact on Mothers
One woman described her experience of giving birth without pain relief as “unbearably painful.” Others reported trauma, with some unable to consider having more children. While stillbirth rates have declined over the past decade, about 1 in 20 mothers develops post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth. Alarmingly, 13% of all NHS claims last year were related to birth injuries and medical negligence, resulting in significant payouts to families, the BBC reports.
Urgent Call for Change
CQC specialist Nicola Wise stressed the need for immediate reforms, stating that maternity care failings are widespread. NHS England’s Chief Midwifery Officer, Kate Brintworth, acknowledged that services are still inadequate, while the Royal College of Midwives urged the government to address these long-standing issues.
Despite improvements in stillbirth rates, serious concerns remain, with millions in compensation paid to families affected by birth injuries and medical negligence.
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