Avoidable baby deaths are 'a badge of shame' on the NHS as expert warns bereaved families have to report maternity blunders as watchdogs and hospitals are unable to spot failings

Bereaved families are having to report maternity blunders because watchdogs and hospitals are unable to spot failings, an expert has warned.

Bill Kirkup said avoidable deaths were "a badge of shame" but would continue without urgent change.

Eight years on from his report into the Morecambe Bay maternity scandal, he said the failure of officials to act had needlessly cost more lives.

"I am very disappointed – and surprised – that we're still where we are", he said. "That's a terrible badge of shame for the health service that it takes families to come and tell us what's wrong. 

"Yet just about every tragedy that I've ever been involved with investigating has come to light when there's a group of families who say 'You've got a problem here'.

"People are lying, they're not being open and they're concealing what's happening.

"If we can't bring this change, I'm not confident that there won't be another East Kent, Morecambe Bay or Nottingham, somewhere else."

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Source: Mail Online, 10 March 2023