Baby death review at Midlands Trust 'now dealing with 900 cases'

  • Central

An independent inquiry into Britain's biggest ever maternity scandal is looking at 900 cases, according to a health minister.

The Ockenden Review into baby deaths the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust was initially set up to examine 23 cases.

But speaking in the Commons, Nadine Dorries confirmed that 900 cases are now being looked.

It had been previously thought the review was looking at more than 600 cases linked to poor care, going back 40 years, but Ms Dorries said it "wasn't 600 at all" in relation to the interim findings and the number is greater.

Richard Stanton and Rhiannon Davies with their daughter Kate, who died shortly after birth in 2009.

A leaked report has revealed a "toxic" culture at one NHS Trust, in which mothers and babies suffered avoidable deaths, in what's likely to be the NHS's worst-ever maternity scandal.

Children were also left with permanent disability amid substandard care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.

The interim update report, obtained by The Independent revealed staff routinely dismissed parents' concerns, were unkind, got dead babies' names wrong and, in one instance, referred to a baby who died as "it".

The Ockenden Review is expected to conclude at the end of the year.