Mum of stillborn baby calls for 'justice'

Alice Topping's daughter was delivered stillborn in September 2023

The mother of a stillborn baby has said she is concerned a review of NHS maternity services will not provide "accountability and justice" for parents.

Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is one of 14 NHS Trusts being examined as part of a rapid review of maternity care in England.

Alice Topping, 41, whose daughter Smokey died during labour at the John Radcliffe Hospital's maternity unit in September 2023, said her baby's death was "entirely preventable" after she went five weeks without a scan and had an induction timed "incredibly late".

OUH has said it would "fully support" the review and welcomed the opportunity for independent scrutiny.

'Treated worse than animals'

Ms Topping was 41 weeks and two days into her pregnancy when her daughter died.

She recalled how her midwife had ordered a scan after her bump height dropped - a known high-risk factor for stillbirth.

She also said she made 44 calls to the hospital in an attempt to get a scan after the request was refused.

"We were treated worse than animals. We were ignored over and over again, offered something, then have it taken away, falsely reassured and messed around.

"Our daughter lost her entire life for the cost of a scan. And they refused to bring my induction forward either - they didn't even try," she added.

An external investigation carried out by Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations found parts of Ms Topping's care had not complied with national guidelines and that staff had failed to listen or act on her concerns.

Maternity care at Oxford University Hospitals, including the John Radcliffe, has been criticised in recent years

The Oxford trust's maternity services have come under scrutiny in recent years, with both the Families Failed by OUH Maternity Services and Keep the Horton General campaign groups, raising concerns over care.

The government announced on Monday that OUH was among the NHS trusts to have their maternity services examined over what has been described as "failures in the system".

Ms Topping said: "I welcome extra scrutiny at the John Radcliffe. I don't think this investigation is going to go far enough.

"Women, families need to be listened to and babies cannot keep dying preventable deaths at the John Radcliffe," she said

Alice Topping said her daughter's death was "entirely preventable"

She said both her and her partner had been left with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and depression following their experience.

"These are very complex issues in maternity and interconnected systemic problems that need to be looked at as a whole.

"So it needs a full public inquiry to really get the justice, the answers, the accountability that the victims deserve," she said.

Details of organisations offering information about bereavement, mental health or with feelings of despair are available at BBC Action Line.

• Families want Oxford maternity care inquiry

• New mum says maternity treatment was 'humiliating'

• Campaigners tell harrowing childbirth stories

Simon Crowther, acting chief executive officer at OUH, said: "We recognise that some families have experienced care that did not meet the high standards we strive for.

"To those families, we offer our sincerest apologies. We are listening, and we are determined to learn from every experience to ensure that no family feels unheard or unsupported.

"This review is an important step in a national effort to improve maternity care across the NHS.

"We are committed to playing our part in this journey – with openness, transparency, and a relentless focus on the safety and wellbeing of every woman and baby in our care."

Announcing the local inquiries, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said bereaved families had shown "extraordinary courage" in coming forward with issues dating back more than 15 years.

Baroness Amos, who will chair the review, added that she was committed to ensuring families affected by maternity care failures were heard and that the 14 investigations would lead to improvements nationwide.