A damning report into NHS maternity services in England has found that hospitals often resort to cover-ups, falsify medical records, and deny bereaved parents answers after causing harm during childbirth. The inquiry, led by Baroness Amos, concluded that negligent care has devastating emotional and psychological consequences for families.
The report highlights that disputes between maternity staff have a disastrous impact on mothers, while ethnic minority and poorer women experience worse outcomes due to racism and discrimination. Baroness Amos stated that the system is not working for women, babies, families, or staff, and that lessons from previous scandals have not been learned.
Staff shortages and relentless pressure on maternity units lead to long delays for assessments, caesarean sections, and induced labour. Women are sent home after birth without proper assessment and cannot get through when seeking advice by phone. The report also notes that families face resistance when requesting medical notes, with instances of notes being amended or redacted.
Paul Whiteing, chief executive of Action against Medical Accidents, said the evidence shows the shocking lengths some staff go to, such as hiding or falsifying medical records, to cover their tracks. He added that this demonstrates the scale of the challenge in improving maternity and neonatal services.
