Following concerning reports last week that another maternity unit was deemed inadequate, we welcome the news that the Health and Social Care Secretary has ordered a rapid national inquiry into NHS maternity and neonatal safety. Given the national crisis in maternity care it is vital that the Government sees this as a top priority.
National maternity investigation launched to drive improvements – GOV.UK
Who will be involved in the inquiry?
The inquiry will be co-produced with clinicians, experts, and parents, which is crucial as it is so important that the lived experience and perspective of victims is heard and understood. Mr Streeting says that the Government will take immediate steps to hold failing services to account.
What are the main issues?
Looking at past maternity scandals and having assisted many victims of substandard maternity care, ‘staff culture’ and ‘staffing levels’ are two factors that are often cited as some of the root cause of issues. The Secretary of State will need to take urgent action to ensure that these difficult root causes can be rectified. Both the Royal College of Obstetricians and the Royal College of Midwives welcome the review recognising that maternity services are ‘at, or even beyond, breaking point’.
How Lime Solicitors can help
We have acted for and continue to assist families who have suffered as a result of substandard maternity and neonatal care and our current maternity medical negligence campaign looks to expose the current state of maternity care and calls for a complete overhaul of the UK’s maternity services. We hope that today’s announcement is the first step in making positive change to patient safety in maternity care.
Contact our maternity negligence solicitors today
We have three decades’ worth of experience dealing with claims related to maternity and neonatal care. If you believe that you or your child has been injured during the period around birth or shortly afterwards then please do contact us and one of our experts will be able to advise you whether you might have a claim. You can call us free on 0808 164 0808 or request a call back, and we will call you.
