Maternity patients at Furness General Hospital and Westmorland General Hospital were reportedly made to feel like a 'burden' on the service and left 'frightened and uncertain' according to a new national investigation. The findings, which form part of a wider National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, highlight serious concerns about patient experience within The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT).
The independent investigation, commissioned in June of last year, gathered evidence from 323 families affected by bereavement or harm, and conducted site visits at 12 NHS trusts. The final report, published today, stated there is 'absolutely no justification for the tragic cases of unsafe care and avoidable harm we continue to see in England'. Furthermore, it deemed unacceptable the 'poor response and lack of accountability when something has gone wrong' experienced by many women and families.
Patients who participated in evidence panels raised issues including not being consistently listened to, believed, or taken seriously, especially when voicing concerns about symptoms, pain, mental health, or past trauma. Families of babies diagnosed with disabilities during pregnancy also reported being treated as if their babies were 'problems to be managed or discouraged', rather than receiving appropriate support. Investigators noted that some felt 'judged and pressured into making certain decisions' and were 'rushed and as if they were just a number in the system'.
This is not the first time UHMBT's maternity services have faced scrutiny. A highly critical government-backed report in 2015 followed the deaths of 11 babies and one mother at Furness General Hospital between 2004 and 2013, citing a 'lethal mix' of failures. While the trust's chief executive, Steve Williamson, acknowledged 'significant changes and improvements' have been made, he stressed that this 'does not lessen the impact on those involved'. He added that the Care Quality Commission rated the trust's maternity services as 'good' this year for the first time since 2019, but conceded there is 'more to do'.
The report also touched upon staff morale, noting it was 'generally low' across the trust's sites, with a feeling that Morecambe Bay was once again under scrutiny. Midwives reportedly felt ashamed of their jobs in public despite being proud of their work, due to public attention. Despite improvements following the 2015 investigation, the report indicated this positive trajectory was 'not sustained'.
The implications of these findings for the NHS are significant, underscoring the ongoing need for systemic improvements in maternity care across the country. Ensuring patients feel heard and respected is fundamental to safe and compassionate care, and a lack of accountability can erode public trust in vital services.
Source: National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation