Hospital staff warned of ‘harrowing’ report into maternity failings

Staff working for East Kent hospitals have been warned to brace themselves for a “harrowing” report into the trust’s maternity services.

Some 200 families have given evidence to an inquiry looking into the deaths of new and unborn babies since 2009.

That report is due to be published on Wednesday and is expected to expose a catalogue of serious failings.

An email from the trust's chief executive says she expects the conclusions to be significant and profound for both families and staff.

[VeryRandomIris]

Very sorry for your loss. This is a horrible situation.

[ron]

Absolutely heartbreaking, a consequence of training, staffing, and to be honest a toxic culture that runs deep in the universities and the hospitals. Its no wonder why most will leave soon after they qualify which equals in minimal care.

[lin]

So painful to hear....even more so painful for the mother and family

[petercollins]

Those who have overseen this disgraceful shortfall in care should be jailed. Heads of hospitals should be made responsible for these tragedies. We need to start seriously punishing this utter incompetence!

[NiceButBites]

Thia is honestly so heartbreaking to hear. I can't imagine what this lady and her family have been through, x

[obi-wankenobi]

The rudeness of some of these maternity nurses is just a disgrace ! and this is from the top of the country to the bottom ! I think what should happen with these lot of no user's is name and shame on social media platforms including local and national newspapers ! so their neighbours can read and see what their so beloved kind and understanding nurse who lives next door is really getting up too ! 😎

[deancurtis]

Such a horrible thing to happen, so sorry for your loss

[estherjacob]

Why are babies and people getting sepsis in hospitals all the time, must be a lack of hygiene and care as well as not caring less what happens to anybody .

[melgrant]

Shift work has a lot to answer for .many problems are given to the next shift and it's too late in some cases.

[johnnewington]

From my dealings with this hospital trust and going through the 3 stages of their PALs complaint process, EKHT are still very much in denial that they have an engrained systemic cover up culture, where covering up and lying are positively tolerated. Until individuals within this trust with personal integrity stand up and call out those involved in this cover up culture, things will not change and it will be inevitable that repeated, preventable sub optimal outcomes will continue to occur in all departments of EKHT.

[snsn]

No system is perfect. However when such blatant negligence takes place and no one faces the consequences then I can feel pain of the families. On the other hand, staff are overworked, unsupported and in some cases they have no business in healthcare roles.

[jennyrussellobrien]

Heartbroken for this lady. What is most remarkable is that this post has been up for 14 hours as far as I can see and there are only 64 comments. This is highly indicative of the general lack of interest in maternity matters. Maternity departments are disgustingly neglected, with overworked and undertrained staff being the norm. There have been giant leaps in our knowledge of anti and postnatal care, mental health during pregnancy, paediatric care but little to no evidence of this being put into practice. The care in French maternity homes, birthing centres, hospitals was better forty years ago than ours is now. We say that we are sorry for the unnecessary loss of these babies and mothers but not sorry enough for the government or local councils to do something about it. It isn’t always a question of money either, it’s a question of attitude . Think I have made my point, let’s see what further support there is for the long overdue radical overhaul of this shamefully neglected department.

[catherinewetzel]

Such a devastatingly result from failing to perform such routine life-saving procedure. Group B strep is very common and can be life-threatening to newborns if not treated with the antibiotics.

[angelagilmore]

My heart aches for you, I am afraid that treatment in hospital leaves a lot to be desired especially maternity I pray for your recovery

[deejay]

Why are there untrained / poorly trained staff?

[superchickensoup]

This is the worst so sorry for the little guy

[aaronhenley]

and there some people out there sticking up for them when there In the wrong

[gerriedoll]

Horrible !! I am so sorry for your lost !!!

[cheeks]

Within an hour of my son being born I found a left over needle just laying in his bedding. Nobody came looking for it and I received no apology when I gave it to the nurse

[ftroop]

Heartbreaking! 😔
If there is one dept, mire than others, at a hospital, where I'd hope to see 100%, it's in maternity.