In February 2020 the government announced that NHS England and NHS Improvement were commissioning an independent investigation into the maternity and neonatal services provided by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. The investigation was to be led by Dr Bill Kirkup and the Report is expected to be published imminently.
Further information about the Review can be found on the following website:
https://iiekms.org.uk/about-the-investigation/
Among the Terms of Reference for the Investigation, the following is stated:
“…the Independent Investigation will consider individual cases where there was:
- a preventable or avoidable death;
- concern that the death may have been preventable or avoidable;
- a damaging outcome for the baby or mother;
- reason to believe that the circumstances shed light on how maternity services were provided or managed or how the Trust responded when things went wrong.”
Sadly, Michelle Meakin, one of our Partners, has dealt with a tragic claim involving an avoidable baby death. Further details can be found here:
https://girlingspersonalinjury.co.uk/news-post.php?id=134
If you have been affected by anything covered in this article, support is available from SANDS (the stillbirth and neonatal death charity) https://www.sands.org.uk/
Please do not hesitate to contact our friendly and sensitive team should you have any concerns about treatment you or your baby have received.