2022 has not been a good year for NHS maternity services across the country. Rather than seeing them as one-offs, they are all too easily becoming the norm. This week saw the publication of an independent review, led by Dr Bill Kirkup, into the failings of East Kent NHS Hospitals University Trust between 2009 and 2020.
Different outcomes
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust runs five hospitals in total, the review focused on its main maternity services at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
In total more than 200 cases were looked at and the review found a ‘pattern of recurring harm’ and ‘sub-optimal care.’ In 97 out of 202 cases, the outcome for the mothers or babies could have been different. Of those, 45 babies’ deaths may have been avoided, 12 babies may not have suffered brain damage and 23 mothers may not have died or been injured.
Cover up
Whilst the Trust has since apologised, Dr Bill Kirkup said that those in charge had largely ignored families and given the appearance of ‘covering up the scale and systemic nature’ of its problems. The report also highlighted ‘clear and repeated’ failures of professionalism from staff at the hospitals, including:
- Failing to address known issues with midwifery and obstetric staff
- Being disrespectful to women and disparaging to colleagues in front of them
- Deflecting or denying responsibility
- Blaming mothers for their own misfortune
- Attributing cases of wrongdoing to more junior staff
- Minimising failings and providing false reassurance
- Inability to acknowledge errors openly and learn from them
- Complete lack of teamworking, compassion, listening and communication
Long overdue change
The Kirkup Review found 4 key areas for improvement:
- Monitoring safety performances – earlier warning signs needed before significant harm is caused
- Standards of clinical behaviour – instances of harmful lack of professionalism
- Flawed teamworking – the teamwork was found to be dysfunctional
- Organisation behaviour – attempting to look good while doing badly
Kiran Jalota, Head of Medical Negligence and Personal Injury, said, ‘Once again it is difficult to image the pain and anger that has been unnecessarily caused to families. There were so many incidences of suffering and heartache that could have quite simply been prevented.’
Kiran concludes. ‘We can only hope that The Trust do everything they can to accept the reality of these findings, acknowledge the harm they have caused, address the problems identified and make significant changes to ensure this type of tragedy is not allowed to happen again.’
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At Alsters Kelley, our approach is personal, sensitive, and caring. We understand you may have already suffered harm in the hands of those you put your trust in, which is why we put you at the heart of everything we do.
If you have any concerns about the treatment either you and your baby received and would like help or advice, please contact Kiran Jalota on 01926 356030 or email kiran.jalota@alsterskelley.com.
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