The director of communications at Nottingham University Hospitals has been suspended after bereaved parents involved in the maternity review were blocked on Twitter. The suspension of Tiffany Jones, the director of communications and engagement, comes just hours after she apologised for her actions.
Ms Jones, who works at the hospital trust which runs the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, blocked a number of bereaved parents, who lost their babies due to failings in maternity care. Ms Jones was contacted on the evening of August 18 and shortly afterwards a swift apology was made.
She said: "I apologise wholeheartedly for the upset my decision to block some individuals from my personal Twitter account may have unintentionally caused.
Read more: Nottingham maternity review hope as Donna Ockenden meets families for first time
"I have reflected and made the decision to delete my Twitter account," she added.
Nottinghamshire Live now understands Ms Jones has been suspended from her role. An NUH spokeswoman says: “We offer our sincere apologies for the upset caused.
"We know the devastation caused to families when we have not delivered the best care in our maternity service and we are committed to engaging with and listening to families in order to make the necessary improvements. The Director of Communications has been suspended.”
Donna Ockenden was appointed in May this year to spearhead an inquiry into the maternity services at Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital. More than 100 families with experiences of maternity failings had written to former Health Secretary Sajid Javid demanding action.
A much-criticised initial review had been scrapped and Ms Ockenden, who uncovered 200 avoidable baby deaths at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust across two decades, said the review is now open to families, NHS workers and others who wish to contribute.
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