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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/14/furness-hospital-deaths-midwives-body-admits-failings
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Furness hospital deaths: midwives council admits failings | Furness hospital deaths: midwives council admits failings |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has admitted that its failure to promptly investigate concerns over deaths in the maternity unit at Furness General hospital may have put lives at risk. | The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has admitted that its failure to promptly investigate concerns over deaths in the maternity unit at Furness General hospital may have put lives at risk. |
| Up to 19 deaths at the hospital between 2004 and 2012 came as a result of mistakes by staff in its maternity unit, in one of the biggest patient care scandals involving an NHS trust in England. The scandal involved six neonatal deaths, 10 stillbirths and three deaths of mothers at the hospital. | Up to 19 deaths at the hospital between 2004 and 2012 came as a result of mistakes by staff in its maternity unit, in one of the biggest patient care scandals involving an NHS trust in England. The scandal involved six neonatal deaths, 10 stillbirths and three deaths of mothers at the hospital. |
| I wanted to find out how my baby died. Instead I got dishonesty and hostility | James Titcombe | I wanted to find out how my baby died. Instead I got dishonesty and hostility | James Titcombe |
| A report by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) published in May found the lives of mothers and babies were “undoubtedly put at risk” when the NMC ignored urgent warnings from Cumbria police over the actions of midwives. | A report by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) published in May found the lives of mothers and babies were “undoubtedly put at risk” when the NMC ignored urgent warnings from Cumbria police over the actions of midwives. |
| The report was commissioned by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, after a 2015 inquiry found the maternity unit at Furness General hospital had been dysfunctional and staff were deficient in skills and knowledge. | The report was commissioned by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, after a 2015 inquiry found the maternity unit at Furness General hospital had been dysfunctional and staff were deficient in skills and knowledge. |
| Concerns over care at the hospital were first raised after the death of nine-day-old Joshua Titcombe from sepsis in 2008, but it was eight years before the NMC ruled that two midwives failed in their duty to properly care for him. | Concerns over care at the hospital were first raised after the death of nine-day-old Joshua Titcombe from sepsis in 2008, but it was eight years before the NMC ruled that two midwives failed in their duty to properly care for him. |
| Following the publication of the report, Philip Graf, the chair of the NMC, accepted that there had been failings, but claimed public safety had not been put at risk. However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the body accepted responsibility for all of the failings in the report. | Following the publication of the report, Philip Graf, the chair of the NMC, accepted that there had been failings, but claimed public safety had not been put at risk. However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the body accepted responsibility for all of the failings in the report. |
| The statement read: “We fully accept the conclusions of the PSA report. Due to our failures to act and the resulting delays in our investigations and hearings, some midwives continued to practise who may not have been safe to do so and mothers and babies may have been at risk of harm during this period. | The statement read: “We fully accept the conclusions of the PSA report. Due to our failures to act and the resulting delays in our investigations and hearings, some midwives continued to practise who may not have been safe to do so and mothers and babies may have been at risk of harm during this period. |
| “During this time, further adverse events, including one death, occurred at Furness General hospital under the care of midwives who were already under investigation by us. The PSA concluded that it does not know whether any of these could have been prevented.” | “During this time, further adverse events, including one death, occurred at Furness General hospital under the care of midwives who were already under investigation by us. The PSA concluded that it does not know whether any of these could have been prevented.” |
| The statement said that in 2012 “the organisation was failing at every level, including in fitness to practise”. “We didn’t get things right,” it said. “We did not listen to families or act on credible evidence from them and others. | The statement said that in 2012 “the organisation was failing at every level, including in fitness to practise”. “We didn’t get things right,” it said. “We did not listen to families or act on credible evidence from them and others. |
| “Multiple opportunities to take action were missed, we didn’t investigate concerns and when we did, we took too long. We are very sorry for this. We are taking the PSA report extremely seriously and are determined to do everything we can to learn from it. | “Multiple opportunities to take action were missed, we didn’t investigate concerns and when we did, we took too long. We are very sorry for this. We are taking the PSA report extremely seriously and are determined to do everything we can to learn from it. |
| “As has been recognised, progress has been made since then, enhancing our handling of complaints, improving our support for witnesses and other family members, and working more closely with employers to spot problems earlier and more effectively. But there is much more we can and will do to change and improve.” | “As has been recognised, progress has been made since then, enhancing our handling of complaints, improving our support for witnesses and other family members, and working more closely with employers to spot problems earlier and more effectively. But there is much more we can and will do to change and improve.” |
| James Titcombe, the father of Joshua Titcombe, said: “The comments from Philip Graf last week stating that safety wasn’t put at risk were truly shocking and suggestive of a failure to understand the PSA report at a most basic level. | James Titcombe, the father of Joshua Titcombe, said: “The comments from Philip Graf last week stating that safety wasn’t put at risk were truly shocking and suggestive of a failure to understand the PSA report at a most basic level. |
| “However, the fact that the NMC have now finally admitted that their failures at Morecambe Bay [NHS Trust] put the lives of mothers and babies at risk is welcome.” | “However, the fact that the NMC have now finally admitted that their failures at Morecambe Bay [NHS Trust] put the lives of mothers and babies at risk is welcome.” |
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