Criticised Morecambe Bay NHS trust claimed £2m for 'good care' provision
An NHS trust criticised over the avoidable death of a newborn baby was paid £2m for providing good maternity care, the BBC can reveal.A senior coroner ruled on Friday that University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay (UHMB) NHS trust contributed to Ida Lock's death and had failed to learn lessons from previous maternity failures.Despite this, the trust claimed it had met all 10 standards under an NHS scheme aimed at promoting safe treatment.Ida's mother Sarah Robinson said the behaviour of the trust - which has declined to comment - was "another kick in the teeth" while her father Ryan Lock labelled it "disgusting".
Senior coroner for Lancashire James Adeley concluded that Ida had died due to the gross failure of three midwives to provide basic medical care.Ida, who was born at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) on 9 November 2019, died a week later after suffering a serious brain injury due to a lack of oxygen.Dr Adeley ruled her death had been caused by the midwives' failure to deliver the infant "urgently when it was apparent she was in distress" and contributed to by the lead midwife's "wholly incompetent failure to provide basic neonatal resuscitation".He said eight opportunities had been missed "to alter Ida's clinical course".Her five-week inquest at Preston County Hall heard that many of the issues identified in a 2015 independent review of UHMB's maternity services were still evident in November 2019.The RLI is run by the UHMB trust.
'Critical inspection'
Under the Maternity Incentive Scheme run by NHS Resolution, the health service's insurance arm, maternity departments in England are encouraged to provide good care by meeting 10 safety standards, including properly investigating deaths and listening to parents' concerns.Trusts which certify they have met these standards receive a rebate on their insurance premiums, in addition to a share of money paid by NHS trusts which do not.In the five years that the scheme has been running, UHMB said it had met the 10 standards four times.In 2018, the first year of the programme, the trust's self-certification led to it being paid £1,288,241.In 2019, the year of Ida's death, it received £734,112 after again claiming to have hit all of the criteria.The UHMB trust also claimed a perfect 10-out-of-10 record in 2020 but their submission was reviewed by NHS Resolution following a critical inspection of maternity services by the Care Quality Commission.The regulator's report rated maternity services as "inadequate", with UHMB's score downgraded to three out of 10.Consequently, UHMB was not given any money that year by NHS Resolution, and the trust was made to repay most of the amount it had received in 2019.
'Painting a false picture'
When told about the payments scheme and how the trust had benefitted from it, Mr Lock said it was "disgusting". He said: "It's painting a false picture so they can receive money."A former maternity risk manager at the trust, Rox-Anne Hetherington, said Morecambe Bay's actions were in keeping with her experience."I can, hand-on-heart, say that it wasn't a case of 'What have we done to [make things better]?'"It was a case of 'What are we going to say we've done?'"Dr Bill Kirkup, whose 2015 inquiry exposed widespread failings in maternity care, including the preventable deaths of 11 babies and a mother at the trust's Furness General Hospital in Cumbria, also said he wasn't surprised."Some trusts put a lot of effort into how they can present the best picture of themselves, and much less effort into whether they're actually making improvements underneath," he said.
'Not fully compliant'
UHMB's claims are in line with other struggling trusts which have also made similar erroneous submissions under the Maternity Incentive Scheme.The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS trust was forced to repay almost £1m after it similarly claimed to have met all of the safety standards. A review of its maternity care, published in 2022, found more than 200 babies and mothers could have survived with proper care.The East Kent University Hospitals trust, where an inquiry found at least 45 babies could have survived, was also forced to repay £2m after falsely claiming it had met the safety criteria.In a statement, NHS Resolution said "University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS trust initially self-reported full compliance with the Maternity Incentive Scheme in years 1, 2, 3 and 5."However subsequent NHS Resolution reviews of the Trust's evidence for years 2 and 3 following the publication of their CQC report demonstrated that they were not fully compliant for those years."The Trust was required to repay any funds for those years. The previously granted rebate was returned to NHS Resolution and was redistributed to all compliant Trusts."The UHMB, which has previously apologised for its failings in Ida Lock's death, declined to comment about its participation in the Maternity Incentive Scheme.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Experts flag new agonising risk of most popular contraceptive - after another type is linked to brain tumours
Millions of women on the Pill may face a higher risk of painful infections that can cause infertility or life-threatening pregnancy complications, experts warn. The warning comes just weeks after it emerged that hundreds of women in the UK are considering legal action amid fears contraceptive injections may raise the risk of brain tumours five-fold. Now, experts are sounding the alarm over other hormonal contraceptives, which have been shown to contribute to chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Dr Melanie Davis-Hall, medical director at The Lowdown and an NHS GP, said: 'The potential link between these conditions and hormonal contraception deserves more attention. 'Recurrent UTIs and BV can seriously affect a person's quality of life. 'These aren't just minor annoyances—they cause pain and can lead to complications like kidney infections or pelvic inflammatory disease.' A recent US study of more than 24,500 women found those using prescribed contraceptives were significantly more likely to develop a UTI. The injection was linked to a two-fold increase in UTIs, whilst The Pill—which contains hormones oestrogen and progesterone—was associated with a 10 per cent spike. Despite concerns, health experts urged women taking hormonal contraception not to suddenly stop without having another method in place. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common but agonising condition that affects the bladder, urethra and sometimes the kidneys. It's typically treated with a short course of antibiotics. Symptoms include a burning sensation while urinating—known as dysuria—frequent or urgent need to go, and lower abdominal pain. According to the NHS, some people may also notice blood in their urine, develop a high temperature or feel hot and shivery. Others may have an unusually low temperature, below 36C. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), meanwhile, is a common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge and can raise the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia. Dr Melanie Davis-Hall, an NHS GP and medical director at The Lowdown, says she regularly sees women with recurrent infections while using certain hormonal contraceptives. The proportion of women taking oral contraceptives has fallen by more than two-thirds, from 420,600 in 2012/13 to 126,400 in 2022/23, according to the NHS data. Around 555,400 women turned to the health service's sexual and reproductive health services in 2022/23—equivalent to four per cent of 13 to 54-year-olds In some cases, symptoms ease significantly after switching contraceptive methods—or stopping them altogether. One woman, who asked not to be named, told MailOnline she suffered from monthly bouts of thrush and UTIs for more than five years while taking the Pill. Since August last year, the 24-year-old teacher from Oxford experienced near-daily symptoms, including a stinging sensation when passing urine or during sex, and a frequent, urgent need to go. Despite trying everything from over-the-counter remedies to repeated courses of antibiotics, nothing brought lasting relief. 'Having constant thrush and UTIs has completely knocked my confidence—especially around being intimate,' she said. 'It's really upsetting to feel unattractive, even with a really understanding partner.' She added that limited access to bathrooms during the school day often made her symptoms worse. 'I'm always thinking about where the nearest toilet is when I'm out in public. It's draining, having to plan around it all the time.' Since coming off the Pill in April for fertility reasons, her symptoms have almost entirely cleared—and she hasn't had a single UTI. 'I feel disappointed that I didn't know all the facts, and that the dots weren't joined by my healthcare provider,' she said. Commenting on the large number of women reporting recurrent UTIs, Dr Davis-Hall said: 'Whilst there isn't robust clinical evidence yet to definitively confirm that the Pill causes UTIs, there are plausible biological mechanisms. 'The Pill can alter the balance of hormones in the body—particularly oestrogen and progesterone—which may impact the vaginal microbiome, the ecosystem of bacteria that protects against infections like BV and UTIs.' Hormonal changes can also affect the vaginal and urethral linings, which may influence susceptibility to infection. Vaginal dryness is a well-known side effect of progestogens—synthetic hormones used in many contraceptives—and this in turn increases the risk of UTIs. 'Contraceptives containing certain progestogens may thin the vaginal lining or affect cervical mucus in ways that increase the risk of other infections like BV,' she added. Common symptoms of BV include unusual vaginal discharge—often with a strong, unpleasant odour, particularly after sex—and changes in the colour and consistency of discharge. According to the NHS, around half of women with BV experience no symptoms at all. Whilst the condition is not usually serious and can often be treated with antibiotics, in extreme cases it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is a serious infection of the female reproductive system that can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes. This can increase the risk of a dangerous ectopic pregnancy—where a foetus grows outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tubes. Ectopic pregnancies cannot be saved and can cause life-threatening complications. If left untreated, PID can lead to infertility—a risk that rises with repeated episodes of the disease. Dr Davis-Hall said: 'Recurrent UTIs and BV can cause pain, impact sexual enjoyment or lead to avoidance of intimacy, and contribute to relationship difficulties. The psychological burden—particularly when symptoms are dismissed or inadequately managed—is also significant.' In line with NHS guidance, she advises anyone experiencing recurrent UTIs or BV to speak to their GP to rule out other causes and consider whether their current contraceptive method may be playing a role. The warning comes as research published this week suggests that millions of women taking the mini-pill could be at greater risk of developing a brain tumour. The mini-pill —a daily birth control pill that contains progesterone only—is often prescribed as an alternative to The Pill, which also contains oestrogen. But scientists now say that women who take the contraceptive for more than five years are more likely to develop a meningioma. These tumours can be potentially life-threatening, putting pressure on the brain and causing symptoms like seizures, visual disturbances and memory loss as they grow. However, health experts urged women not to be alarmed, as the overall risk remains very low. Experts also pointed out a key limitation of the study—the researchers only looked at one type of mini-pill, desogestrel , and did not asses other progestogens. That being said, a similar study published last year, found that women using contraceptives jabs were also more likely to suffer potentially-fatal brain tumours. The injection implicated in the study—known as medroxyprogesterone acetate—also contains progestogen and works by stopping ovulation. When used correctly, this form of long-acting reversible contraception can last up to 13 weeks. But now a team of scientists from the French National Agency are raising the alarm over the jab's safety, as they found the number of women developing meningiomas while on the jab was particularly worrying. Around 400 women from the US have so far joined a class action against Pfizer and other manufacturers of the jab, alleging that they were aware of the risk but failed to adequately warn users or promote safer alternatives. All the women developed meningiomas after using Depo Provera, the brand name the jab was sold under, for at least a year.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Tories propose 'Scottish first' approach to medical training
The new proposals were unveiled as party members gathered in Edinburgh for their annual conference. READ MORE 'What we've got is Scottish students not getting jobs in Scotland and they are leaving across the world," Dr Gulhane said. 'The SNP was great at training doctors for Australia. It's an absolute disgrace.' He added: 'We would offer Scottish graduates first because they tend to stay, and more than that, they tend to stay where they're from. So if you're from an island or a rural area, you will want to go back to that place. That creates GPs in areas that we are desperate for.' Dr Gulhane also unveiled a plan for a 'seven-day-a-week GP-led service', supported by targeted investment in the NHS's core funding mechanism for general practices. 'We would create a seven-day-a-week GP service,' he said. 'We have this unique position where we have unemployed GPs, and yet everyone wants to see a GP. 'We literally have unemployed GPs, so we would start actually using the capacity that was there.' He said his party would 'put money into Global Sum specifically ring-fenced for additional GP appointments.' 'So an example I always give is if you've got a urine infection, it's not an emergency, but you need to get seen,' he said. 'If you can't get a GP appointment during the day, you will call up NHS24 because it hurts, it's uncomfortable and whilst you're not desperately unwell, you deserve to get treated. 'But if I've created more capacity in GP, you will get treated in GP, which means you're not calling NHS24, which means urgent and emergency patients get through. And they get seen by a GP.' He added: 'There are going to be people who spill over, and there's going to be people who need to be seen urgently in the evening and I, as a practising GP, understand that, and I'm creating a policy that makes sense. 'So we would put more money into NHS24. And that is, again, ring-fenced, specifically for GP appointments.' Dr Gulhane said he wanted to see a shift toward early intervention in healthcare to reduce pressure on hospitals and specialist services. 'It saves us money because if you're a bit sad and you come to see me and I get on top of that and I help you and I get you into, say, a talking therapy and we solve your being a bit sad, you're not going to be depressed,' he said. 'Depression and sadness are very different things, but I can treat you early and I can get on top of the problem early, which means you don't progress in needing secondary care.'
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Ossett prostate cancer patient urges men to have checks
A man diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer said the news felt like falling into a "black hole", as he urged others to check for signs of the Burkey, from Ossett, was diagnosed in 2021, and was told his condition was incurable after a bone 59-year-old spoke as Prostate Cancer UK launched a campaign urging men to visit their GP with prostate concerns, in the hope of an early Burkey told BBC Radio Leeds: "You think it is always going to happen to somebody else; you just cannot believe it is you." Mr Burkey sought a diagnosis after experiencing symptoms related to prostate to the NHS, symptoms can include:Having a sudden urge to urinate Getting up often in the night to urinateBlood in your urineErectile dysfunction."I had a blood test, an MRI and a biopsy," Mr Burkey being told his illness was incurable, he said: "You are almost standing next to yourself thinking, I do not know what to do with this."You just cannot process it." According to Prostate Cancer UK, one in eight men will get prostate is now England's most common the prevalence, the charity's research suggests six in 10 men are concerned about having a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE).Of those, over a third would not speak to a GP about prostate worries because they feared the DRE Burkey urged men to seek a diagnosis despite barriers, saying: "You do not need to have a DRE now."You can ask your GP for a simple blood test and that gets the ball rolling, it is as simple as that." Earlier this week, the British Association of Urological Surgeons urged GPs to stop using the "outdated" and "inaccurate" DRE as a standard labelled it a "poor test" that deterred men from coming are encouraged to use Prostate Cancer UK's 30-second online risk checker and to talk to their GP about the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.A high level of PSA in the blood can indicate prostate led by Prostate Cancer UK shows that the way prostate cancer is diagnosed - with a PSA blood test followed by an MRI scan - reduces potential harms to men by 79%.Among those to catch the disease early was actor Colin who has appeared in The Dark Knight and Doctor Who, announced he had prostate cancer on the BBC Breakfast sofa in June said: "I'm really lucky I caught it early, so I thought if I'm lucky and I know so much about this, I need to try and share this knowledge." McFarlane's friend, theatre director Femi Elufowoju Jr said hearing his story encouraged him to get checked, which led him to also being thanked McFarlane for saving his treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Mr Burkey's body has stopped responding to advanced hormone said: "Inevitably your body becomes resistant, the cancer becomes resistant to them."You are constantly having your PSA levels monitored to see how treatments are working."You are constantly sort of on your toes thinking where am I up to now?"What have I still got left that can be used?"It is a very anxious time."I do not want another man to be in the position I am in." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
