Interim report from Baroness Amos finds maternity care failings are worse than anticipated
Baroness Amos, chair of the review into maternity care set up by Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said that what she has seen so far “has been much worse” than she is anticipated. Whilst this is disappointing to hear, it comes as no surprise and for families who have suffered devastating and avoidable loss and harm, her frank words will offer some encouragement that finally, their concerns just might be being taken seriously.
The review comes in the wake of countless scandals afflicting maternity care units across the country, including units at NHS Trusts in Oxford, Leeds, East Kent, Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury and Telford, and Nottingham.
Baroness Amos highlights a number of issues that are being raised consistently. Of particular concern are the following:
- Women not being listened to, including when they report reduced fetal movements
- Women of colour, working class women and women with mental health problems experiencing discrimination in the care they receive
- NHS organisations “marking their own homework” following serious incidents i.e. the death of a baby or where a baby has suffered serious harm.
Baroness Amos’ findings only serve to strengthen the growing picture nationally that maternity care is in crisis.
After the Francis report into the widespread failings at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust back in 2013, many NHS trusts promised to prioritise patient safety, embrace the values of transparency and accountability and learn from their mistakes, to ensure they were never again repeated.
But since that time, there has been scandal after scandal.
It is, of course, positive that the urgently needed maternity review by Baroness Amos is now underway and that families are supposed to be at its heart. It is to be hoped that finally, this time around valuable lessons will be learned and constructive steps taken to improve maternity care to ensure mistakes are not repeated and that women and babies are protected from avoidable harm.
