‘Blame culture’ in maternity safety failures prevents lessons being learnt

‘Blame culture’ in maternity safety failures prevents lessons being learnt A wide-ranging report by the Health and Social Care Committee on maternity safety in England finds that improvements in maternity services have been too slow, with the CQC’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals reporting evidence of a ‘defensive culture’, ‘dysfunctional teams’ and ‘safety lessons not learned’. Professor Ted Baker told the inquiry that more than a third of CQC ratings for maternity services identified requirements to improve safety, larger than in any other specialty. MPs recommend urgent action to address staffing shortfalls in maternity services, with staffing numbers identified as the first and foremost essential building block in providing safe care. 

See also:

• Culture of blame holding back maternity safety, report finds BBC News
• ‘A cascade of catastrophic failings’: the UK’s baby death scandals The Guardian
• MPs say 1,000 babies die preventable deaths in England each year The Guardian
• Ministers must invest £350m to make maternity units safe, MPs say The Independent
• Maternity services in England need urgent improvement and at least £200m more to reduce unnecessary deaths, says MPs' report Sky News