Lib Dems on Nottingham Review: Anger isn’t enough

EMBARGO: 11.45 Wednesday 24th June

Lib Dems on Nottingham Review: Anger isn’t enough

Responding to the Nottingham Review being published today, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

“The dismissal of staff concerns. The hiding of failings from regulators. The refusal to listen to women and their families. The bullying, the organisational failures, the misplacing of bodies. This is a review that should shock the country and shake the government into action.

“Anger isn’t enough. Mothers, doctors and midwives are sick of seeing review after review met with stasis. The same failures repeated over and over.  This must be the moment we say enough, no more women should be made to give birth on an unsafe ward.

“The Government must meet this moment or British women and families will never forgive them. That means implementing Donna Ockenden’s actions in full and without delay, introducing genuine accountability and whistleblowing throughout the NHS, and pledging the investment we need to make Britain the safest country in the world to have a baby. Liberal Democrats will not rest until they do.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the Hillsborough Bill, requiring members of hospital boards to whistleblow when they see reports of systemic medical malpractice, as took place in Nottingham. The amendment can be found here.

The party have tabled similar amendments to the Health Bill, which would provide new powers for coroners and medical examiners to report suspected health system failings. See here.

The Liberal Democrats are campaigning for a £600m maternity rescue package that would deliver 1-1 midwifery care for every woman in labour and guarantee 24/7 consultant presence at every maternity unit. The full Lib Dem proposal can be found here.