Member Article

Will independent NHS investigations into stillbirths mean a fairer outcome for parents?

By Trevor Ward, a senior solicitor at leading medical negligence law firm, Fletchers Solicitors, who has over 30 years’ experience in all areas of medical negligence, from birth trauma to general surgery claims.

“The announcement by the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, that the newly established Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) will investigate approximately 1,000 stillbirths per year is welcome news. Any attempts to save the lives of thousands of babies and reduce the number of brain injuries must be highly commended.

“However, the Government’s current Rapid Redress Scheme already aims to address issues with the complex way stillbirths and brain injury cases in babies are investigated to save funds and costs. So, it is hoped that the HSIB will not just be a replica of this scheme and will encourage greater transparency when mistakes are made.

“Achieving true independence in future investigations is vital, as is the participation of grieving parents. Parents must be appropriately represented in such investigations because at the moment they are given little, if any, financial assistance to fund their representation within inquiries, particularly at the Coroner’s court. These parents are forced to make these arrangements privately at their own expense, yet health authorities and trusts are almost always represented properly throughout investigation processes.

“There remains tremendous pressure upon the NHS, given the huge shortages of appropriate clinical and midwifery staff. But, lessons do need to be learned in respect of these often avoidable and tragic deaths. It is to be hoped that the recent announcements are not another method of restricting parents’ access to justice where the tragedies are caused by substandard care and where appropriate redress is warranted.”

For more information, please visit www.fletcherssolicitors.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Fletchers Solicitors .