THE REPORT into maternity care at Shropshire’s two main hospitals marks a new beginning despite highlighting “shocking examples of failings” in the past, according to legal firm with a base in Oswestry.

Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors represented more than 75 families pursuing legal claims against the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH) NHS Trust.

Kay Kelly, head of clinical negligence at Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, said the initial findings of the Donna Ockenden review were deeply worrying – but it was important to start looking to the future.

She said: “This year we have united in pride and admiration for our NHS but this report reminds us that we must also accept that in the past, not everyone has experienced the standard of care from the NHS that they deserve.

“The Donna Ockenden report highlights shocking examples of failings in maternity care provided at SaTh between 2000 and 2019.

“The report identifies disappointing and deeply worrying themes which have jeopardised patient safety and caused harm to babies and mothers for years.

“Women at their most vulnerable were not listened to and denied empathy, appropriate care and the opportunity to deliver their babies safely.

“As we at Lanyon Bowdler continue to fight for justice for those families that have been affected, we must also look to the future.

“This is our local Trust. Our staff, friends and family all give birth here and so this is an incredibly personal cause to our team.

“We have profound sympathy for our clients and the families that have suffered indescribable loss, and we look forward to improvements being made to ensure the maternity services at our local Trust are safe.”

Lanyon Bowdler is considered to be the leading clinical negligence firm in the area, and Kay said it was likely that still more families would come forward with potential claims.

She added: “The next step for any mothers and families who are considering bringing a claim for damages for compensation is to contact a specialist clinical negligence solicitor who will investigate the case and look for correlations in the themes and criticisms identified in the Ockenden preliminary report.

“If the case has merit there is always a way of funding a claim, and I would encourage anyone in doubt to just get in touch with our team to discuss their options.”