Police considering corporate manslaughter charge in NHS maternity scandal

Detectives are reportedly considering corporate manslaughter charges in the NHS maternity scandal case.

Officers in the serious crime directorate of Kent Police are reportedly looking at unsafe maternity care in the East Kent Hospitals University Trust.

A number of high-level meetings, including those with the Crown Prosecution Service, have been held, reports The Independent.

It would only be the second time an NHS trust had faced a corporate manslaughter charge.

Failings came to light in January last year at the inquest of baby Harry Richford, who died at seven days old in 2017 after he was delivered by an emergency caesarean section performed too late by an inexperienced locum doctor.

A second doctor delayed resuscitating Harry and he died from irreversible brain damage.

The trust initially did not refer Harry’s death to the coroner, but his grandfather Derek Richford did so in March 2018 out of fear staff were trying to cover up mistakes.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Richford said: “Since Harry died we have found that the trust have done everything in their power to avoid scrutiny.

Figures released through Freedom of Information requests revealed at least 124 infants have died after being born at the Trust since 2013 – but only 24 of these deaths were reported to the coroner.

And just 11 of its 93 stillbirths and newborn deaths lead to a ‘serious incident’ investigation in the last two years.

An independent inquiry into the trust’s maternity services was ordered by the government in February.

A spokesperson for East Kent Hospitals said: “We have not been contacted at all by Kent Police, however, should they open an investigation we would of course cooperate fully.

“We thank the families who have come forward to share their experiences of using our maternity services with the independent investigation and remain committed to continuing to make improvements.”

Source: (Mirror)