Families' Shock At Maternity Unit Report

Two new reports have criticised a hospital maternity unit in Cumbria where police are investigating the deaths of a number of mothers and babies.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council found a culture of support for staff rather than mums and babies in the unit at Furness General Hospital in Barrow.

In addition, the NHS watchdog body Monitor raised serious concerns about the leadership of the health trust that runs the hospital.

Families of babies who died at the unit have reacted with shock at the findings.

James Titcombe, whose nine-day-old baby Joshua died at the unit , said: "This is further evidence that the problems identified at Joshua's inquest this year have not been properly addressed.

"It is appalling to think that the lessons have not been learned."

The inquest ruled Joshua died of natural causes following a number of missed opportunities to identify that he was ill and to provide him with appropriate treatment.

It accused midwives of colluding to cover up mistakes in relation to his care.

Independent investigators have also raised concerns about two other incidents last month involving children at Furness General.

In relation to one, in which a child died, they said: "[It] appears to provide evidence of a midwife not appropriately involving medical staff or following guidelines in a way that is a further and recent example of long-standing concerns."

Independent advisers will now review maternity services at the department.

Monitor said: "This will ensure we can get a complete picture of the maternity department and any underlying problems.

"We need to understand whether the trust's leaders are acting effectively to identify issues affecting patient care and resolve them quickly."

Fifteen detectives at two incident rooms have been investigating the deaths of several mothers and babies at the hospital maternity unit.

The chief executive of the local NHS Trust, Tony Halsall, said: "We recognise that Monitor needs to be assured that we are addressing all its concerns as a matter of urgency and we will therefore continue to work hard to take rapid and effective action in order to comply with our authorisation as a Foundation Trust."

The head of midwifery at the trust, Sascha Wells, said: "We have invited in a highly experienced clinical advisory team, which includes a head of midwifery, a supervisor of midwives and a consultant midwife, to offer mentorship and support to clinicians and senior management.

"Their remit includes taking forward the recommendations from the Nursing and Midwifery Council report as well as identifying areas of good practice and advising where practice can be further developed and enhanced."