Is there a Crisis in Maternity Care in England?
There are indications that maternity services in many parts of England are struggling to provide acceptable care.
Exposing the problem: reports published in 2022
2022 has seen the publication of a number of reports considering the quality of maternity care and the experience of childbirth in England.
Both regionally and nationally, concerns have been raised:
- In March of this year, Donna Ockenden's review into maternity services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust was published. Having analysed around 1500 incidents which had occurred over a twenty year period, the review found 'repeated failures in the quality of care and governance at the Trust throughout the last two decades, as well as failures from external bodies to effectively monitor the care provided.' Donna Ockenden has since been asked to lead a further investigation, this time into maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
- In the summer, the publication of 'Birth Injuries: The Hidden Epidemic' revealed the results of a survey of over 800 women from the UK, Australia and New Zealand who had suffered birth injuries. The report states that 'the experience of giving birth is leaving behind long-term damage to many women's physical and mental health' and identifies 'systemic failures in maternal health systems' as being responsible for a failure to 'adequately prepare parents for birth' as well as situations where medical professionals 'routinely ignore, dismiss or misdiagnose injury and dysfunction; and leave women feeling isolated and abandoned.'
- In October the Kirkup Review into the quality of maternity services at two East Kent hospitals found that 'over that period (2009 – 2020), those responsible for the services too often provided clinical care that was suboptimal and led to significant harm, failed to listen to the families involved, and acted in ways which made the experience of families unacceptably distressingly poor'.
- The Care Quality Commission's recent 'State of Care' report drew specific attention to concerns about the quality of maternity care in England, stating that 'the quality of maternity care is not good enough. Action to ensure all women have access to safe, effective and truly personalised maternity care has not been sufficiently prioritised to reduce risk and help prevent tragedies from occurring.'
- Earlier this month, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists responded to the latest report from MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk Through Audits and Confidential Enquiries) regarding maternal deaths, with the following comments: 'The results of today's report are worrying, especially the increase in maternal deaths and the increasing impact mental health has on mortality rates.'
Addressing the problem?
The Royal College of Midwives has highlighted the staffing crisis in maternity services, identifying a shortage of 2000 midwives and calling on the government to take action to improve recruitment and reduce the numbers of midwives leaving the service.
The Ockenden review likewise called for 'NHS England to invest in a recruitment and retention drive to alleviate pressures in understaffed maternity services, more investment in training for midwives, support staff and doctors, as well as actions to ensure midwives and their medical colleagues want to remain working in the NHS.'
To some degree, the message seems to be that, without sufficient investment in maternity services, staffing shortages will increase and the quality of care will decrease, putting the lives and health of mothers and babies at risk.
However, comments within the Ockenden Review and the Kirkup Review would suggest that there may be wider issues of 'failures of teamworking, professionalism, compassion and listening' (Kirkup Review).
The right to compensation
The vast majority of women giving birth in the UK have a safe, healthy and positive experience. Occasionally, however, that is not the case and the long-term impact of the experience can be life-changing, affecting not only the physical health of both mother and baby but also the new mother's psychological health.
If a patient suffers a poor long-term outcome due to substandard medical care, they are legally entitled to make a claim for compensation.
If you or a loved one are struggling with on-going difficulties due to negligent care, contact a legal specialist for advice.
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced solicitors. Contact us today to speak with a legal specialist, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim for compensation for negligent care.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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