Maternity services in Bradford have come under intense scrutiny following a national investigation that revealed a significant disparity between the intended care provided by staff and the actual experiences of families. The review, led by Baroness Amos, found a 'clear gap' at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT), where women felt they were not 'believed, listened to or taken seriously' during their care.
The findings are part of a broader national report that concluded maternity services across the UK are in urgent need of reform and are no longer fit to deliver high-quality care. Mel Pickup, Chief Executive of BTHFT, issued an apology to 'the women whom we have let down,' acknowledging the 'lasting trauma and harm' caused. This comes despite the trust's neonatal services recently receiving an 'Outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), while its maternity services were rated 'Good'.
Among the concerns raised by families at Bradford Royal Infirmary were busy wards, stretched staffing levels, heavy administrative burdens, and digital systems described as 'difficult to navigate'. These factors reportedly led to staff spending significant time on tasks away from patients, which families noticed and felt impacted the reassurance and encouragement they needed. Some women also reported feeling patronised, having their symptoms dismissed, and being coerced rather than supported, with claims they were told they could not leave or make feeding decisions unless they complied with staff expectations.
Lauren Caulfield, whose daughter was stillborn in 2022 after failings in her care across Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and BTHFT, criticised the report for not going far enough. Ms Caulfield, now a student midwife, believes a statutory public inquiry is necessary to address what she describes as a 'systemic problem'. She highlighted that while most staff strive to provide the best care, they are often hindered by inadequate systems, including insufficient staffing, excessive hours, and a lack of time for patient care.
Further issues identified in the report included concerns over communication, with mothers receiving conflicting advice, and the physical state of the Bradford Royal Infirmary site, where the age and layout contributed to delays, stress, and additional pressure. The complaints process at the trust was also criticised for being difficult to understand and slow, often leaving families feeling met with 'silence and a lack of explanation'. The report noted that the experiences shared by women spanned various time periods, suggesting that some issues, such as the condition of the estate or working practices, may have evolved since.