East Kent: A decade of failure in maternity care

East Kent: A decade of failure in maternity care

At the heart of the trust’s problems, it seems, is a dysfunctional culture that stretches back almost a decade. In 2015, a review of its maternity services by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists found multiple problems, including consultants failing to carry out ward rounds, assess women or attend out-of-hours calls. The report was … Read more

East Kent maternity deaths: CQC considered shutting unit

East Kent maternity deaths: CQC considered shutting unit

Ms Gittos, whose baby Harriet was born at the East Kent trust’s Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in 2014 and died eight days later, said: “When my daughter Harriet was born, the then head of midwifery was so concerned about safety that she thought that the William Harvey in particular should be closed … Read more

East Kent hospitals: Maternity concerns at baby death NHS trust

East Kent hospitals: Maternity concerns at baby death NHS trust

Sarah Shingler, chief nursing and midwifery officer and deputy chief executive of East Kent NHS, said: “We continue to work hard to improve our maternity services, including our work to listen to and act on feedback from those using our care. Although a number of changes have been made, we know there is a lot … Read more

East Kent hospital baby deaths: Dr Bill Kirkup review to be published

East Kent hospital baby deaths: Dr Bill Kirkup review to be published

Speaking ahead of the report’s publication, Dr Kirkup told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “When I reported on Morecambe Bay maternity services in 2015, I did not imagine for one moment that I would be back in seven years’ time talking about a rather similar set of circumstances and that there would have been another … Read more