Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Ockenden Review of Maternity Care: Shrewsbury and Telford

15 January 2020 · 4 other contributors

Opened by Lucy Allan Con Telford

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Lucy Allan raised concerns about ockenden review of maternity care: shrewsbury and telford in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • MP raised concerns about systemic problems in maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
  • The Ockenden review found over 40 avoidable deaths and more than 50 brain-injured babies.
  • Minister pledged full support for Donna Ockenden to complete her review of 900 cases.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Lucy Allan Con Telford

The MP raised concerns about the safety of women and babies receiving maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, highlighting systemic problems within the NHS. She mentioned that the Ockenden review uncovered more than 40 avoidable deaths and over 50 brain-injured babies, indicating a significant failure in transparency and openness by senior management. Lucy Allan emphasised the need for transparency and learning from mistakes, comparing it to the Morecambe Bay trust inquiry where lessons were learned promptly.

Other contributors (4)
  • Jeremy Hunt Con South West Surrey

    Complimented Lucy Allan's efforts and emphasised that treating Shrewsbury and Telford as a one-off incident would be a mistake. Highlighted the need for learning lessons across the NHS system.

  • Jim Shannon

    Stressed the importance of prioritising the care of mothers and babies, advocating for more support for mothers who have had several children to ensure they are coping.

  • Owen Paterson Con North Shropshire

    Acknowledged the difficulty in discussing numbers but emphasised the personal tragedy behind each case. Mentioned that the infant mortality rate at the trust is marginally better than the national average, aiming towards a target of 2.6 by 2025.

  • Philip Dunne Con Worcestershire

    Asked for interim findings on current practice to reassure expectant mothers, suggesting that openness and transparency should be prioritised over hiding facts.

Government Response

Nadine Dorries

The Minister congratulated Lucy Allan for securing the debate. She reassured that the NHS remains one of the safest places in the world to give birth, and highlighted the Government’s ambition to halve stillbirth rates by 2025. The Ockenden review, chaired by Donna Ockenden, was tasked with assessing 900 cases across various years. While acknowledging the increased scale of the review, she emphasised that it cannot be rushed. She promised full support for Donna Ockenden to conclude her work and committed to reviewing next steps once the report is published later in the year.

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