NHS Confederation responds to the review into East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust’s maternity services.

Responding to Bill Kirkup’s review into East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust’s maternity services, Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said:

“This review highlights in detail extremely disturbing failings in maternity care over a sustained period of time and a catalogue of truly awful experiences for women, babies and their loved ones.

“We know that the chief executive of East Kent and its chair both stand ready to build on the improvements made already to the trust’s maternity services and act on the report’s findings, as does the wider NHS. Rates of both neonatal mortality and injury have improved nationally over the last ten years but health leaders understand there is more to do and more to learn.

"While there is no excuse for the failings that have been exposed in this review, the government must recognise its role in supporting the NHS to deliver for its local communities with adequate staffing and funding in maternity care. The £127m funding boost it announced for maternity services in response to the Ockenden Review back in March is important, but it falls short of the £200-350m that the health and social care committee has recommended is needed.”