300 babies died or were left with brain damage in the maternity NHS scandal, says a damning report

A total of 300 babies died or were brain-damaged due to avoidable errors in care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, according to the independent review when it is released this week

Families were “silenced or ignored,” said a former senior midwife who led a major inquiry into maternity care, ahead of her report’s release.

A total of 300 babies died or were brain-damaged due to avoidable caregiving mistakes, the independent review will say, according to The Sunday Times when it is released this week.

Baby deaths and claims of poor maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) have been reviewed by Ockenden’s independent inquiry.

The research was launched in 2017 by then Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and reviews the experiences of 1,862 families.

It is led by Donna Ockenden, who is currently the Senior Midwifery Advisor to the Chief Executive of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

At least 12 mothers died in childbirth and some families lost more than one child, the report is said to show.

The newspaper quoted Ms Ockenden as saying: “There have been numerous opportunities for the system to wake up and realize there was a problem with this trust.

“There have been a number of cases over many years where families have tried to be heard and have been silenced or ignored.”

She added: “We have seen families that have been separated, families where relationships have broken up, instances of trauma and PTSD that have lingered for years after the event, as well as horrible, horrible sadness.

“Sometimes after meeting families, I would go back to my hotel room and cry.”

An interim report released in December 2020 highlighted a number of failures, including not listening properly to parents.

The review said delivery staff stressed patients by using “inappropriate language” and blaming grieving mothers for their loss.

A spokeswoman for the team involved in the final report, which is due to be released on Wednesday, said they would not comment until then.