News and Updates

Publication of the Independent Review of maternity services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Today, Wednesday 30 March 2022, marks the publication of our final report of the Independent Review of maternity services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. Our independent multi – professional team of midwives and doctors including obstetricians, neonatologists, obstetric anaesthetists, a physician, cardiologist, neurologist and others have examined the maternity care and treatment provided to 1,486 families over two decades at the Trust.

This report identifies more than 60 Local Actions for Learning for the Trust and another 15 key Immediate and Essential Actions to improve all maternity services in England, including financing a safe and sustainable maternity and neonatal workforce and ensuring training for the whole maternity team meets the needs of todays maternity services. We state that trust Boards must have oversight and understanding of their maternity services. Trust boards must ensure that they listen to and hear local families and their own staff.

Read the Final Report | Read the Press Release

March 2022

A fifth of children in care self-harmed during pandemic, research finds

One in five children in care in England were self-harming and likely to have mental ill health during the Covid-19 pandemic, research published on Wednesday reveals.

March 2022

NHS under pressure from new Covid wave across England

The NHS is coming under “significant” pressure amid a rise in Covid cases in virtually every area of England, the chief medical officer has warned, with hospitalisations likely to continue increasing at least until April.

March 2022

Covid: Fewer stomach bugs recorded during UK’s lockdown

The UK’s Covid lockdown appears to have had a massive impact on stomach bugs, slashing outbreaks by more than half in England during the first six months of the pandemic.

March 2022

NHS bookings open for Spring boosters

The NHS COVID vaccination programme will today start inviting eligible people to come forward for their life-saving Spring booster jabs. People aged 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed will be able to book from 7am as the biggest and most successful vaccination programme in health service history enters a new phase.

March 2022

Covid: Rise in UK infections driven by BA.2 Omicron variant

Covid cases have continued to rise in the UK, with an estimated one in every 20 people infected, figures from the Office for National Statistic suggest. All age groups are affected, including the 75s and over, who are due a spring booster jab to top up protection.

March 2022

Recent developments and primary care goals for ovarian cancer

For primary care teams, keeping up-to-date with developments and current best practice is the key to expediting ovarian cancer diagnosis, according to Dr Sharon Tate, Head of Primary Care Development, Target Ovarian Cancer (TOC).

March 2022

Birthing kits to go to Ukraine to help pregnant mothers

Medical kits to help midwives support mothers giving birth are to be sent to Ukraine. The 30 bags have been put together by charity Baby Lifeline, cost about £1,000 each and will be sent out in the next few days, via Poland.

March 2022

Welsh leader calls for Donna Ockenden to investigate

Families owed apology from Betsi Cadwaladr health board and Welsh Government. Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the fact that the deaths of two patients have sparked damning reports into the failings of mental health services in north Wales.

March 2022

Baby died after mother given ‘incorrect advice’ in call to Stoke-on-Trent hospital

A six-month-old baby died after the mother was given the wrong advice, hospital board papers have revealed. The mother called the maternity assessment unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital seeking medical advice, the hospital trust said.