An NHS trust’s maternity wards made patients “feel like a burden on the service” and “frightened and uncertain”, an investigation has found.<\/p>\n
The findings at The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) are part of the wider National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation.<\/p>\n
The trust runs two sites in Cumbria, Furness General Hospital and Westmorland General Hospital, as well as the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.<\/p>\n
Chief executive of the trust Steve Williamson said: “While we have made significant changes and improvements in recent years, that does not lessen the impact on those involved – we will never forget that.”<\/p>\n
The independent investigation was commissioned last June, with 323 families affected by bereavement or harm attending evidence panels and site visits conducted at 12 NHS trusts.<\/p>\n
In its final report published today, investigation chair Baroness Valerie Amos said: “There is absolutely no justification for the tragic cases of unsafe care and avoidable harm we continue to see in England.<\/p>\n
“Nor is it acceptable that so many women and families experience a poor response and lack of accountability when something has gone wrong.”<\/p>\n
Eleven babies and one mother died at Furness General Hospital in Barrow between 2004 and 2013.<\/p>\n