In April 2017, Ian Paterson, a surgeon in the West Midlands, was convicted of wounding with intent, and imprisoned. The story of a surgeon harming patients in his care was shocking, and at the time of his trial Paterson was described as having ‘breached his patients’ trust and abused his power’. His malpractice took place in both NHS and private facilities. On 4 February 2021 the independent inquiry into the issues raised by Paterson published its report. 

MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK) have now published their seventh annual report for 2020, reviewing maternal deaths and their possible causes. The report shows that pregnancy remains very safe in the UK, where approximately 0.01% of pregnancies resulted in mortality either during or up to 6 weeks after pregnancy between 2016 and 2018. Of this 0.01%, however, mothers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (‘BAME’) backgrounds are disproportionately overrepresented.

The important work of Coroners in promoting patient safety can be illustrated by two recent Prevention of Future Death (‘PFD’)…

Donna Ockenden, Chair of the Independent Maternity Review of care provided at The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, has published an emerging findings report in a bid to improve the safety of mothers and babies whilst the full investigation continues.

On Saturday, 22 August, my colleague Nina Ali and I took an early train to Chelmsford to join Melanie Leahy…