A Cumbrian health trust is among 14 across England to have its maternity services scrutinised by a national investigation.
The review, headed by Baroness Valerie Amos, will look at trusts including the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
It was ordered by Health Secretary Wes Streeting in June.
The investigation will urgently look at a range of services across the entire maternity system, following independent reviews across multiple trusts that have revealed a pattern of similar failings: women’s voices ignored, safety concerns overlooked, and poor leadership creating toxic cultures.
Following the review, Baroness Amos will make national recommendations for maternity and neonatal care, with interim recommendations in December.
The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has been chosen where a previous investigation has taken place and learnings from it will be incorporated in the new investigation.
The 14 trusts announced today have been chosen for investigation based on a range of factors. These include data and metrics, such as the CQC maternity patient survey and MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality rates, as well as criteria to determine a diverse mix of trusts:
- Variation in case mix
- Trust type
- Geographic coverage
- Provision of care to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including consideration of social, economic and racial inequalities
- Family feedback
Aaron Cummings, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation is an important piece of work that will give all NHS trusts the opportunity to learn from each other and improve the maternity services offered across the country.
“We are pleased to have been identified as a trust who can share good practice with others as a result of the significant improvements our teams have made following the Morecambe Bay Investigation in 2015 and our involvement in the national Recovery Support Programme and the Maternity Safety Support Programme.
“Our vast geography, varied population demographics and involvement in a previous national investigation put us in a good position to be able to share our experiences and support other trusts who are working to improve.
“We look forward to supporting the investigation and working with other trusts to share the learning and improvements we have made over recent years. We are also keen to listen and work with our services users and families to take forward any further opportunities to improve as a result of this work.”
The 14 health trusts are:
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- East Kent Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust / Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
