Babies are still dying needlessly because the NHS has failed to learn from maternity scandals, a damning report is expected to find on Wednesday.
Hundreds of families gave evidence to the inquiry into deaths of mums and babies at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust dating back to 2009.
Short staffing is expected to be a factor and the report is also expected to show how a failure to implement sweeping 2015 recommendations after the Morecambe Bay maternity scandal is allowing failings to continue at other hospitals.
Anita Jewitt, a medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, which represents alleged victims, said: “Sadly, this latest review is not an isolated incident, with other scandals highlighting the need for improvements to the likes of staffing levels, training and birthing procedures.
“Too many maternity reviews have highlighted similar issues across the country. It’s crucial changes are made.”
East Kent’s main maternity services are at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
The Care Quality Commission said that during unannounced inspections in July 2021 there were not enough midwifery staff and maternity support workers to keep women and babies safe.
