The Professional Standards Authority welcomes the publication of the final report of the Independent Maternity Review of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (‘the Ockenden Review’).
The Review, which published its interim findings in 2020, examined cases involving avoidable harm and deaths affecting over 1,486 families occurring mainly between 2000 and 2019 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.
Our thoughts are with the women and families affected, many of whom not only suffered tragic and life changing experiences but have also had to fight to have the concerns they raised properly acknowledged.
The report identifies a number of themes which have been present in other public inquiry reports including the barriers for patients in being heard and a culture of fear preventing staff from speaking out. More needs to be done to ensure that the themes and findings from public inquiries are acted upon in a timely and joined-up way to prevent future harm.
We will be examining the findings of the report further and working with the professional regulators that we oversee as they review any actions they may need to take in response.
ENDS
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Email: media@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the Editor
- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
- We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
- Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk