A grandmother from Leicestershire, whose grandson was tragically stillborn four years ago, has expressed deep concerns that crucial improvements in maternity services are not being implemented quickly enough. Jo Holland's comments come as a new report, led by Baroness Valerie Amos, calls for immediate and comprehensive reform across the national maternity and neonatal care system.
Ms Holland's grandson, Mason, was stillborn at Leicester Royal Infirmary in 2022. The cause of death was recorded as pre-eclampsia, and an investigation subsequently identified multiple failings in his mother Ellie Harrington's care. Ms Holland, from Countesthorpe, described the death as 'unforgivable' and stated that her family has been 'forever changed' by the avoidable loss. She conveyed her disappointment that issues raised in Baroness Amos's review echo concerns her family voiced years ago, suggesting that progress has been insufficient.
The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust was one of twelve trusts scrutinised in Baroness Amos's National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. The report, released this week, highlighted 'inconsistent' care within Leicester's maternity services. Families interviewed described feeling 'unsafe, unheard and without clear information', with many reporting that 'early warning sign symptoms' were either not recognised or not responded to promptly enough. This led to situations where positive outcomes were attributed to 'lucky mistakes' rather than safely planned care.
Further issues identified during the investigation's visit to the Leicester sites in December included 'old and not fit to provide 21st Century care' buildings at Leicester General Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary. Patients also reported 'long waits to be assessed' and limited reassurance regarding their concerns. Staff across the trust also shared their experiences of chronic shortages in midwifery, medical, nursing, and support roles, which they said negatively impacted their wellbeing and the standard of care they could provide.
Baroness Amos's report outlines eight key recommendations aimed at achieving 'urgent reform'. These include the creation of a statutory national maternity and neonatal commissioner to drive 'system-wide change' and significant improvements in how the NHS responds to and learns from adverse events. While Ms Holland supports the idea of a national commissioner, she believes the seriousness of the failings in Leicester warrants a dedicated inquiry, similar to those conducted in other areas.
The findings underscore a persistent challenge within the NHS to ensure consistent, high-quality maternity care. The report's emphasis on learning from mistakes and addressing systemic issues suggests a recognition of the deep-seated problems that continue to affect patient safety and staff welfare in these critical services.
Source: Baroness Valerie Amos's National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation