21 July 2023
In February 2020, NHS England commissioned Dr Bill Kirkup CBE to undertake an independent review into maternity and neonatal services at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, following concerns about the quality and outcomes of care.
Dr Kirkup’s report detailed the poor maternity care that over 200 families received at the trust between 2009 and 2020 at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital at Margate and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. He concluded that the trust failed to provide safe care and treatment which resulted in avoidable harm for mothers and babies, causing tragedy and distress that no family should have to experience.
It was found that the outcome could have been different in 97, or 48%, of the 202 cases assessed, and the outcome could have been different in 45 of the 65 baby deaths, or 69% of these cases. The report can be accessed via the following link Maternity and neonatal services in East Kent: “Reading the signals” report – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
He made a number of recommendations for improvements to the maternity and neonatal services and the government have recently provided their detailed response to the report, acknowledging that significant change was required, not just in East Kent but throughout the Country, fundamentally changing the culture of maternity care. the government has committed to change and has started to take steps in this regard. A crucial part of this is the 3-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services, which sets out how the NHS will make maternity and neonatal care safer.
This is certainly change for the better and whilst it may give some comfort to know that active steps are being taken to improve maternity care, this does not change the fact that so many families in East Kent and indeed all over the country have not received the standard of maternity care that they rightly deserve. In spite of these changes, they will be living with the consequences of receiving substandard care, which can be and often is devastating for the whole family.
Our experienced medical negligence team have substantial experience in helping families who are going through such heartache. We pride ourselves on our empathy, supporting families in our capacity as lawyers but first and foremost as family members ourselves. Many of the team are parents and can wholeheartedly understand the importance of getting justice and recognition that you have been let down by those in which you have put your trust.
If you or a loved one have suffered substandard care at East Kent or any hospital in England and Wales, please do not hesitate to contact our team on (01482) 323697 to discuss how we can help.
