This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Lapses in maternity care fatal
Thousands of mothers and babies in England were harmed by lapses in maternity care in the past two years, it has been reported.
The BBC found that more than 276,000 incidents were logged by worried hospital staff between April 2015 and March 2017 - the equivalent of one mistake for every five births.
Almost a quarter of the incidents led to the mother or baby being harmed, and in 288 cases there was a death.
Ministers said safety must be improved, whilst Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it was encouraging hospitals were being honest as that could help prevent repeat problems.
However, childbirth charity NCT said the figures suggested maternity care is facing a crisis.
The incidents have been flagged up under a voluntary reporting scheme run by the regulator NHS Improvement that staff are encouraged to take part in if they have concerns about care.
The potential lapses logged include everything from short delays getting medication or records not being completed properly to babies being deprived of oxygen and life-threatening complications not being diagnosed.
Abigail Wood, head of campaigns at childbirth charity NCT, said: "Maternity care is in crisis, staffing levels are dangerously low and midwives are being stretched to the limit."
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