Cruel comments, racism and cover-ups: key findings from England’s maternity care report

Many families told the investigation they found NHS trusts to be defensive in the aftermath of birth trauma and baby loss. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA

A damning report published as a result of an investigation into England’s maternity care found instances of NHS Trusts covering up their failings and falsifying records to bereaved families, among a catalogue of several failings.

Some of the most shocking examples given in the interim report included bereaved mothers facing cruel comments from maternity staff, shocking incidents of racism and discrimination, cover-ups and a lack of accountability from NHS trusts, alongside glaring structural and staffing issues within maternity wards.