Bereaved parents call for full maternity inquiry

Ewa and Tom Hender, whose baby son died in 2022, say problems with his care could have been prevented

The parents of a baby who was stillborn are calling for a more thorough inquiry into maternity care.

Ewa and Tom Hender, whose son Aubrey died in 2022, believe there were problems with his care, in Sandwell, that could have been prevented.

They support the Maternity Safety Alliance (MSA), a group of bereaved parents who say the government's current rapid review into 14 maternity services across England is "not fit for purpose" in investigating what it describes as "failures in the system".

Sandwell and West Birmingham (SWB) NHS Trust, one of the 14, said it "fully supports" the review and apologised to patients who have "not had the quality of care that they should have received".

Mrs Hender said she felt ignored when she raised concerns during her pregnancy.

"My voice was minimised and I was told that I should listen to what doctors were saying and not my own instincts as a mother," she said.

"We believe that there were issues with my care," she added. "It wasn't only the fact that he died, it was the fact that we both felt it could be prevented."

'System in crisis'

The Henders said the problems they experienced pointed to broader systemic problems in maternity care.

They are supporting the MSA's call for a statutory public inquiry that also looks at the role of NHS regulators, such as the Care Quality Commission and NHS Resolution, the health service's insurance and litigation arm.

"The whole system is in crisis and we need a whole system approach," said Mr Hender.

"While there were issues at the trust we were at, it's not isolated," he added. "Only a statutory inquiry can look at the full system, including regulators."

Maternity services are being examined at 14 NHS trusts

The current review, chaired by Baroness Amos, was announced earlier this year by health secretary Wes Streeting.

Streeting opted for the rapid review instead of a national inquiry into maternity care, which many families have been calling for.

The baroness told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she hoped the review would help families get justice.

'Listened to families'

Mr Hender said the inquiry promised to be "co-produced" with families, but they feel bereaved parents have not been heard.

"The engagement that we have had hasn't listened to the families that I know and taken on board what they've input," he said.

SWB NHS Trust said: "We are listening to the voices of families and staff and see this review as a valuable part of our journey to ensure every woman, birthing person, baby and family receives the care they deserve."

City Hospital, where Aubrey died, has since closed and been replaced by the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, which the trust says has "state-of-the-art facilities" for maternity care.