Oxford Hospitals Trust: 58 Babies Lost Due to Poor Care

0:00On March 19, a BBC investigation reveals that at least 58 babies at the Oxford University Hospital's Trust Maternity Unit might have, survived with better care between 2019 and 2024. That includes 32 stillbirths and 26 neonatal deaths within the first 28 days of life. Many of these cases involve high-risk pregnancies referred from across the region. Several reviews flagged 58 incidents where different care may have or likely would have changed the outcome. The trust handles over 7,000 births a year, often the most complex ones. Bereaved parents describe heartbreaking failures like overlooked warnings from midwives and delays in high-risk situations. They point to a defensive culture and arrogance among some staff that left families feeling dismissed. One mother lost her daughter after repeated pleas for monitoring went unheated. In 2023, the trust had the highest stillbirth rate among similar specialist units, though

1:00it dropped slightly the next year to match. Peers Regulators downgraded its rating and issued a warning notice last December for breaches in care and governance. NHS England has provided targeted support until this June. Campaigners now push for a judge-led inquiry similar to those in leads and suspects. The trust apologizes for poor experiences, vows to review cases again, and joins a national maternity services review set to wrap up soon, aiming for. Lasting safety gains