The Failings in Maternity Services
Written by Rebecca Brisley | Personal Injury Team |27 November 2023
It seems at the moment as though you cannot hear a headline or read a newspaper without mention of seemingly unending terrible birth experiences suffered by expectant mothers, often sadly ending in catastrophic consequences.
Yet another report has been published this week detailing spiraling issues in NHS maternity services, including dangerously low staffing levels, unqualified staff and basic care needs not being met.
Locally, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust have been named as the second Trust in a list of Trusts with the biggest drop in midwives, having suffered an 8.8% drop in workforce between September 2022 and July 2023.
Midwives are absolutely central to an excellent birth experience. They are responsible for providing care and supporting women to make informed choices about their care. Escalation of care needs are normally identified by midwives, and of course good knowledge and experience is necessary in order to ensure that they are able to identify and escalate potential problems at an early enough stage to safeguard both Mum and baby.
Sadly, as all too many of our clients have experienced, these services are failing and sometimes the consequences can be life changing or fatal.
CQC regulators began a national inspection of maternity services in 2022 and so far 56 of the 133 services to be assessed have been given ratings under the scheme. Of those 14 ‘require improvement’ or are ‘inadequate’.
In her foreword to the report, Mavis Kirkham, emeritus professor of midwifery at Sheffield Hallam University, said: 'Twenty years ago, [it was] reported how midwives were leaving midwifery because they could not give the care they wished to give. Things have got so much worse.'
She warned 'care has been squeezed out in the interests of efficiency' and that the service was 'run on a conveyor belt model' which was 'so inappropriate'.
The Maternity Safety Alliance have also recently made a request for a statutory public enquiry into England’s maternity services.
An NHS England spokesman said: 'The NHS is committed to working closely with local trusts and partners to make necessary improvements so that we provide the best possible services for women, babies and their families and it is completely unacceptable for any member of staff to feel silenced or unable to speak about issues affecting them.
'The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out a need to grow midwifery education and training in line with the conclusions of the Ockenden review, and we continue to take action to strengthen maternity services across the country through £186million investment each year to grow the workforce, strengthen leadership and improve culture.'
It is clear that these promises, as they currently stand, are inadequate and that failings will continue to occur until wholesale change is instigated along with a real drive to recruit and retain midwifery staff.
If you, or a family member, has been affected by a terrible birth experience, our expert Medical Negligence Team are happy to discuss your circumstances and whether they can help you. You can get in touch with them by calling 01752 827085 or emailing enquiries@nash.co.uk.
