Shropshire baby deaths: More families come forward as investigation launched
At least three families have come forward since Heath Secretary Jeremy Hunt ordered an investigation into a number of cases of avoidable baby deaths involving the county's hospital trust, it was revealed today.
A Shropshire legal firm, which has represented people in cases of medical negligence against Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust (SATH), said three families had contacted them since the investigation, which was ordered in February, became public knowledge.
Kay Kelly, who leads the medical negligence team at Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, said: "I have long been concerned about the amount of cases referred to us, arising out of alleged mistakes made by the trust in the delivery of babies causing death and permanent injury."
Glyn Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire, has also raised concerns about the impact of the investigation on the ability of SATH to recruit staff and maintain safe services – and said a full transparent investigation was vital.
He said: "The real worry to me arising out of publicity is the negative impact it may have on consultants who might think about coming to work in Shropshire.
"There is already serious pressure on some services arising from an inability to attract consultants to Shropshire. Inevitably, insufficient consultant cover means clinically unsafe services and then the migration of services out of Shropshire altogether and further away from Mid Wales.
"That's why a proper response to the 'avoidable baby deaths' issue is so crucial. Over the last few months, I have developed a growing respect for the current SATH management, and expect a response based on fulsome apologies to every family affected, an intense investigation into every case and total transparency. It's the only response that will be acceptable."
The review of the cases at SATH has come after pressure from parents Rhiannon Davies and Richard Stanton, and Kayleigh and Colin Griffiths, whose babies Kate and Pippa died in incidents that could have been prevented. They wrote to Jeremy Hunt requesting that he launch an inquiry into cases involving the trust.
Mr Hunt stopped short of calling the inquiry but did issue a request for the cases to be reviewed and confirmed the decision in a letter to the families on February 14.
