Maternity scandal investigation has received nearly 200 cases, says family

Nearly 200 families have now reported experiences of poor maternity and neonatal care in East Kent, according to the family whose baby’s death sparked both an independent investigation and a court case against the trust.

Baby Harry Richford died seven days after his birth at the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Hospital in Thanet in 2017.

Next week, the Care Quality Commission is taking East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust to court, alleging it failed to meet fundamental standards of care in the treatment of both Harry and his mother Sarah.

An independent investigation, led by Bill Kirkup, is also looking into maternity and neonatal services at the trust.

In a statement, the Richford family told HSJ  they had had numerous contacts from other families who had had bad experiences of maternity and neonatal care at the trust. “We have encouraged such families to come forward to the Kirkup Inquiry and now believe that the number of families is approaching 200,” they said.

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Source: HSJ, 16 April 2021