Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

East Kent Maternity Services: Independent Investigation

20 October 2022 · 14 other contributors

Opened by Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham

NHS

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Caroline Johnson raised concerns about east kent maternity services: independent investigation in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Minister's statement addressed tragic findings of Dr Bill Kirkup's report on East Kent maternity services
  • Report revealed avoidable deaths and a toxic culture
  • Up to 45 babies might have survived if care met national standards from 2009 to 2020

How the debate unfolded

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

Government Statement

Caroline Johnson

The Minister's statement addressed the tragic findings of Dr Bill Kirkup’s report on East Kent maternity services, which revealed avoidable deaths and a toxic culture. The report found that if care had been given at nationally recognised standards, up to 45 babies might not have lost their lives over the period from 2009 to 2020. Caroline Johnson expressed profound sorrow for the affected families and highlighted the importance of reviewing all recommendations thoroughly while taking immediate steps to improve maternity services in East Kent and across the country. The Minister detailed ongoing initiatives, such as an intensive programme of support at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and a £127 million funding boost for maternity services nationwide.

Other contributors (14)
  • N/A

    Question

    No specific questions are provided in the given text, so this section remains empty until a complete transcript with Q&A session is available.

    Minister reply

    No answers to specific MPs' questions are provided in the given text.

  • Feryal Clark Lab Enfield North

    Question

    I thank the Minister for advance sight of her statement... All women are asking for is to have the confidence that they will be safe—that really is not much. It is high time that the Government delivered it.

    Minister reply

    I thank the hon. Lady for her questions. The report paints a tragic and harrowing picture of poor maternity care at East Kent Hospitals... She also asked about culture change and how that will be measured. It is being looked at in several ways, particularly in terms of the outcomes, such as healthy babies and the mother’s experience of their care.

  • Roger Gale Con Herne Bay and Sandwich

    Question

    Mr Speaker, first, thank you so much for facilitating this statement... What I would like to do at this stage is to ask my hon. Friend to tell me from the Dispatch Box that she is willing to bring her medical expertise, which is considerable, to Margate, and to come herself to see the unit, meet the staff and meet the new chief executive and the new chairman, who are determined to do their utmost to make amends and to do so as swiftly as possible.

    Minister reply

    I thank my right hon. Friend for his comments... I would of course be happy to come to Margate to meet the staff he describes.

  • Rosie Duffield Ind Canterbury

    Question

    I thank the Minister for her statement, Dr Kirkup and his team, and the families and staff who took part in the inquiry... And given that former staff and a governor have said publicly that they cannot recommend the service, how can MPs in East Kent tell our constituents that our maternity services are now safe?

    Minister reply

    I know that this is a matter on which the hon. Lady has been campaigning furiously on behalf of her constituents... On quality, it is doing a review, so each woman is contacted six weeks after her delivery to ask about her experiences, and where experiences have not been as they should be—although they are in almost all cases—that has been further investigated in each case.

  • Damian Green

    Question

    This report is a terrible read... Can the Minister give some reassurance to women in Ashford who are about to have a baby at the William Harvey that they will be treated safely and respectfully, and can she assure the House, looking further afield, that the terrible repeated examples of similar tragedies and scandals around the NHS are now at an end?

    Minister reply

    I know that my right hon. Friend shares the House’s desire to ensure that such events do not reoccur, and that his constituents are safe... I will meet her regularly to receive updates to ensure that the process is not just put in place but followed through.

  • Clive Efford Lab Eltham

    Question

    The stories of the families are harrowing to read... When more midwives are leaving the profession than coming into it, as a matter of urgency to avoid such occurrences in other places, what are the Government going to do to turn around that loss of midwives?

    Minister reply

    NHS England has announced that it is investing an additional £127 million into the maternity system in the next year... That will help us to increase the number of midwives in East Kent but also elsewhere.

  • Helen Whately Con Faversham and Mid Kent

    Question

    Asked the Minister to put herself in the shoes of an expectant mum to ensure that maternity units at East Kent trust are safe, and enquired about accountability measures for trusts to avoid excusing catastrophic outcomes.

    Minister reply

    Acknowledged Helen Whately's long-standing work on safety in NHS. Mentioned regional team and maternity safety support team working actively to improve services. Stressed the importance of addressing workforce issues and ensuring managers are held responsible.

  • Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire

    Question

    Asked about measures being taken to reduce the risk for black women, who are four times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth.

    Minister reply

    Emphasised that the government has a target of reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths across the country, which includes addressing issues specific to women of colour.

  • Tim Loughton

    Question

    Asked about the need for Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 to come into force urgently to ensure coroners can investigate stillbirths.

    Minister reply

    Agreed to meet Tim Loughton to discuss further.

  • Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth

    Question

    Asked for support in ending inequalities in rural maternity services, referencing the Maternity Services (Rural Areas) Bill.

    Minister reply

    Acknowledged the need for rural services to be as good as urban ones. Mentioned a medical education reform programme aimed at directing investment towards smaller and rural hospitals.

  • James Morris

    Question

    Asked about the role of Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) in learning lessons from cultural failures.

    Minister reply

    Announced that an independent body with specialist expertise will be established for maternity investigations, continuing HSIB's work.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Question

    Asked about discussions with devolved health trusts to share information and ensure UK-wide reform.

    Minister reply

    Emphasised the importance of sharing information across all areas of the country, acknowledging that health is a devolved issue but committed to working with Ministers from the devolved nations.

  • Robert Courts

    Question

    Asked for commitment to implement all five recommendations by recess and provide an oral statement detailing progress.

    Minister reply

    Acknowledged horror at the report's findings, promised careful consideration of recommendations, and committed to further updates in due course.

Shadow Comment

Feryal Clark

The shadow minister expressed heartbreak over the report's findings but emphasised the importance of accountability and immediate action. She criticised systemic negligence in maternity units across England, citing figures on avoidable harm cases, safety standards not being met, and staff shortages. Feryal Clark questioned where the £127 million allocated for reform had been spent and how its impact would be measured. The shadow minister also called for safe levels of staffing as outlined by the Chancellor's report on baby loss.

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