Shropshire baby deaths inquiry: Controversial review panel shelved
A controversial panel set up to review the findings of an inquiry into baby deaths at Shropshire's major hospitals has been shelved, after families involved said they feared a cover up.
NHS Improvement faced strong criticism for its plan to set up the six-person panel to scrutinise the review, with claims that members were compromised by their involvement in issues being looked at by the inquiry.
The inquiry, which is being led by Donna Ockenden, was ordered by the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt in 2017, and is looking at as many as 200 cases of poor maternity and neo-natal care at Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH).
On Friday, NHS Improvement defended the creation of the panel and said it would provide an "additional level of scrutiny to this complex and wide-ranging review".
However, today the organisation backed down over the panel after acknowledging "that its role has prompted concerns".
Rhiannon Davies, whose daughter Kate died as a result of avoidable errors at SaTH in 2009, welcomed the move and said the decision to put the panel in place had been "idiotic".
She warned that review panel members had a conflict of interest and could threaten the inquiry's independence, potentially leading families to lose faith in the process.
She said: "The decision to impose scrutiny on the Ockenden review team’s work was an idiotic one.
"Her team is made up the most highly qualified professionals who have over 500 years experienced between them collectively.
"The decision to select compromised, self-interested individuals to people the scrutiny panel was offensive and legally questionable.
"The impact over the last few days on me and my family has been additional pain and stress. Thank goodness our voices have been heard. Thanks to the respected media that carried the story – thanks also to Donna Ockenden and her team for standing strong in the face of this ridiculous attempt at intervention.
Truth
"The truth will out – in Kate’s name."
Dr Kathy McLean, executive medical director and chief operating officer of NHS improvement 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.
"In response to feedback from families, NHS Improvement has decided to stand down the independent review panel. Although the intention had always been for the panel to provide additional scrutiny and support to the wide-ranging review being undertaken by Donna Ockenden, it is clear that its role has prompted concerns, which we hope are now resolved.
"The review remains completely independent and NHS Improvement will ensure that families are given the answers they need and that lessons are learnt.”
The inquiry was sparked after concerns were raised by Rhiannon, her husband Richard, and Kayleigh Griffiths, whose daughter Pippa also died after avoidable errors at the trust.
