Better NHS care might have saved 58 babies, BBC finds

At least 58 babies at an NHS maternity unit might have survived with better care, a BBC investigation has found.

The deaths included 32 stillbirths and 26 neonatal deaths - which is a death within 28 days - at Oxford University Hospitals Trust (OUH) between 2019 and 2024, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Bereaved and harmed mothers have blamed missed chances, "arrogance" among some senior doctors and a "defensive culture".

In a statement, OUH said it was sorry some mothers have had experiences that have left them feeling this way.

It added the figures included mothers and babies who were referred to the trust for specialist care from across the region and every baby death was reviewed in detail to "fully understand what happened and whether improvements are required".

Laura Cook, a partner at Medilaw, told the BBC: "They carry out a tick-box exercise with internal reviews to look like nothing could have been done, it forces families to go to lawyers who then find there's more to it... it puts families through hell.

"What stands out with Oxford is its defensiveness, it's clear that reputation is of the upmost importance, it's not the same with other trusts."

The trust said it recognises some families remain dissatisfied and it takes feedback seriously.

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Source: BBC News, 19 March 2026