Cover up fears over Shropshire baby deaths inquiry
One of the families involved in Shropshire’s baby deaths inquiry has said she fears a “cover up” over the composition of a panel set up to review the findings.
Rhiannon Davies, whose daughter Kate died as a result of avoidable errors at Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (SaTH) in 2009, has warned that families could withdraw support for the inquiry if they are not satisfied over its independence.
The review was ordered by the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, and is looking at as many as 200 cases of poor care at the trust.
It was sparked after concerns were raised by Mrs Davies, her husband Richard, and Kayleigh Griffiths, whose daughter Pippa also died after avoidable errors at the trust.
Mrs Davies said the review panel members have a conflict of interest where the inquiry is concerned, and could threaten its independence.
She said: “The point is this is the biggest maternity review ever done. It has potential to make positive lasting change across the whole NHS because the things being identified are not exclusive to SaTH, and yet because, maybe they are frightened of the findings, these people are coming in and our concern is they are going to try and close it down.”
She added: “NHS Improvement have chosen to invite some highly inappropriate individuals.
“I will be taking some time to consider whether I will allow Kate’s case to be part of the review.”
The specific appointments criticised are those of representatives of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
RCOG carried out a report into the trust two years ago but was paid by the organisation to write a follow-up report, while the RCM represents midwives involved in cases being assessed by the inquiry.
Factor
Mrs Davies said it was also pursuing a natural births policy which could well be a factor in the issues looked at as part of the inquiry.
Responding to the concerns the Department of Health insisted the panel would have “no control over the content or conclusions of the report”.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are taking the patient safety concerns at Shrewsbury and Telford extremely seriously – the Ockenden Review will ensure the trust is equipped to learn from every tragic case where care fell short of the high standards patients expect. The review panel will provide additional support to ensure the review process is as rigorous as possible.
"The review panel will provide additional support to ensure the review process is as rigorous as possible and families get the consistent answers they deserve. The Review itself remains fully independent and the Panel will have no control over the content or conclusions of the report."
Dr Kathy McLean, Executive Medical Director and Chief Operating Officer of NHS Improvement, said the review remains independent.
She said: "We are committed to ensuring Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is able to learn as much as it can from the independent review into its handling of concerns about maternity and neonatal care.
"An independent panel of experienced clinicians and stakeholders will provide an additional level of scrutiny to this complex and wide-ranging review and will ensure there is consistency in the approach taken to reviewing each case.
"The review remains independent and NHS Improvement will ensure that families are given the answers they need and that lessons are learnt.”
A spokesman for RCOG said they refute any suggestion it is compromised.
