Series of 'avoidable' baby deaths at NHS trust being investigated

A series of baby deaths at an NHS trust are being investigated by health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The "avoidable deaths" occurred over a two-year period at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.

A failure to properly monitor the baby's heart rate is said to have been a contributory factor in five of seven deaths.

The Trust's maternity services were severely criticised in an official report published last year.

It followed the death of baby Kate Stanton-Davies in March 2009.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said improvements have since been made and their mortality rates are in line with the national average.

A spokesman said: "There have been, sadly, some mums who have had unexpected deaths during or shortly after labour.

"In every tragic case we have made the learning public; our Maternity service and hospital Trust Board have looked at the circumstances to see how we can learn and, in so doing, make our services even safer."

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Earlier this year, the Health Secretary asked NHS regulators to undertake an investigation at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust in light of disclosures that in a number of tragic cases standards of care fell far below those that parents would expect."