Poor maternity care at Hull Royal Infirmary ‘risked babies’ lives’

A number of mothers have come forward to speak of their harrowing experiences following a damning report earlier this year by the health watchdog into maternity services at Hull Royal Infirmary, which they described as chaotic, unsafe and unfit for purpose, rating the hospital’s maternity unit as inadequate.

Inspectors said the “design, use of facilities, premises and equipment did not always ensure women and birthing people were safe”.

The visit also found that it had issues with staffing and staff sickness and there were no appraisal procedures in place to ensure workers were competent in their roles.

Hull Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said in a statement that its aim was “to ensure everyone who comes into contact with our maternity service has a positive experience.

“We acknowledge that this does not happen on every occasion and, in those instances, we are sorry for falling short of families’ expected standards.”

Lorraine Cooper, director of maternity services at the trust, said “In August 2023, we committed to addressing the areas of concern highlighted by the Care Quality Commission.

“These include the need to improve our handover processes, identification of risk and learning from recent incidents.

“Recruitment is an ongoing issue, as it is for all hospitals, and so we have stepped up our efforts to both recruit new staff and to ‘grow our own’, working with the local university.

“We would encourage families to continue their dialogue with us as we make improvements going forward, as we are committed to learning and adapting to our service users’ needs where there is the opportunity to do so.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s Legal 500 recommended West Yorkshire medical negligence solicitors and birth injury solicitors, have over 20 years of experience and specialist expertise in medical negligence investigations and claims, including cerebral palsy claims and other birth injury claims, supporting injured clients and their families through the legal process and helping them obtain answers, justice and compensation after life-changing events.  We have offices in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Leeds, Bradford and Morley and represent clients locally and nationally.

If you or a relative have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence lawyers on the freephone number below or e-mail us.

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 304 7382