NHS maternity scandal: Inquiry into baby deaths now looking at 900 cases
The inquiry into Britain's worst maternity scandal is now reviewing 900 cases, a health minister has confirmed.
The Ockenden Review, which was set up to examine baby deaths in the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, was initially charged with examining 23 cases, but Nadine Dorries, a health minister, confirmed to the Commons that an additional 877 cases are being reviewed.
A leaked report in November said a "toxic culture" stretching back 40 years reigned at the hospital trust as babies and mothers suffered avoidable deaths. The review will conclude at the end of the year.
Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, said it was "deeply shocking" to hear of the new details and asked that the inquiry is "resolved as quickly as possible".
Speaking in the Commons, Ms Dorries admitted that this announcement is "a huge increase from the original number of cases".
"The original terms of reference covered the handling of 23 cases, the terms of reference have since been updated and were published in November to reflect the expanded scope of the review.
"The review team will be in touch over the following weeks with the affected families to ensure they are appropriately supported throughout the process because I am afraid I have to inform (Conservative MP Lucy Allan) and the House that the additional cases have been identified and a total number stands now at 900 cases and that may be relevant to review.
"A small number of those are going back 40 years."
The health minister added that she has asked to meet with the interim chief executive of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust to see that steps that have been put in place are working.
Ms Dorries said: "While still more work is needed, staffing has increased, morale and governance have improved and I expect the CQC to keep a close eye and a close watch on what is going on.
"To ensure that the tragic cases that the Ockenden review is listening to are not repeated anywhere else, that has to be the objective of this. Women deserve a better maternity experience and that is what we are determined to achieve."
