The East Kent NHS Foundation Trust has admitted to "failing families" in cases of stillbirth and has issued a formal apology to those affected. The admission comes as board meeting papers revealed findings from an independent review that identified "recurrent and systemic weaknesses" in the trust's maternity care.
In a report presented to the board, acting CEO Dr. Des Holden stated, "On behalf of the board, and personally, I am very sorry and apologise to the women and families, and their communities, where failings in our care are at the heart of these devastating outcomes."
The review assessed multiple cases, finding that in four instances, care deficiencies were identified as likely to have affected the outcome for the baby. In an additional four cases, care issues were noted as potentially contributing to the outcomes.
The documents detailed "recurrent and systemic weaknesses in the management of high-risk pregnancy, foetal surveillance, maternity triage, escalation and organisational learning." Since the review's completion, the trust has reported a further seven term stillbirths between April 2026 and August 2026.
These failures highlight significant concerns within the trust's approach to high-risk pregnancies and the management of critical incidents. The apologies and review findings underscore the critical need for improved protocols and organizational learning within the East Kent NHS Trust's maternity services.