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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Denis Campbell Health policy editor

NHS maternity units often cover up harmful errors in childbirth, report finds

Newborn baby boy being checked by nurses in hospital maternity theatre
Recent rises in older motherhood and obese women having babies have contributed to maternity care becoming more complicated. Photograph: Jeff Gilbert/Alamy

Hospitals that cause harm and injury to women and babies during childbirth often resort to a “cover-up” of their mistakes, falsify medical records and deny bereaved parents answers, a damning report has found.

“Negligent” care has devastating emotional and psychological consequences for families, disputes between maternity staff have a “disastrous” impact on mothers, and ethnic minority and poorer women have worse outcomes because of racism and discrimination, Lady Amos said.

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