KENT, ENGLAND —

Damning report finds ‘shocking and uncomfortable’ failings at major NHS trust caused ‘significant harm’ to families

Dozens of babies and mothers died or were injured during childbirth because of repeated failings in maternity care at a major NHS trust, a damning report has found.

Dr Bill Kirkup, who led the investigation, said his findings into substandard care at the East Kent trust between 2009 and 2020 were “shocking and uncomfortable” and had a catastrophic impact on families.

Kirkup’s scathing report is the second this year alone, and the third since 2015, to expose what he called “embedded, deep-rooted problems” in the way the health service looks after pregnant women and their babies.

His almost three-year long inquiry identified an array of serious problems with maternity services at the trust’s William Harvey hospital in Ashford and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate.

READ FULL STORY IN THE GUARDIAN BY DENIS CAMPBELL, HEALTH POLICY EDITOR:

East Kent Inquiry: dozens of babies and mothers died or injured in childbirth