Father welcomes improvements to Barrow maternity unit

Joshua Titcombe was just nine days old when he died at Furness General Hospital

A father whose nine-day-old son died because of failings at a Cumbrian hospital has welcomed a report that found standards of care have improved.

Furness General Hospital in Barrow was ordered to make improvements following the deaths of a number of mothers and babies at its maternity unit.

A recent inspection found the hospital was meeting all essential standards.

James Titcombe, whose son Joshua died of an untreated infection in 2008, said he was glad lessons had been learned.

An inquest ruled that Joshua died of natural causes, but that midwives had repeatedly missed opportunities to spot and treat a serious infection.

'Investigated openly'

The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has since been the subject of investigations and inspections, and Cumbria Police is still probing the deaths of a number of babies at Barrow.

In August an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that quality and safety standards were being met.

The trust's chairman, Sir David Henshaw, said there was real evidence of progress.

Mr Titcombe said: "Obviously its really good news that mothers and babies aren't at significant risk any more."