Given all the near-apocalyptic news stories we’ve been treated to over the last six months, you can be forgiven if you didn’t notice the recent Ockenden Report into ‘the biggest childbirth scandal in NHS history’, in which poor care in Nottingham Universities Hospital Trust led to ‘potentially avoidable’ outcomes in 444 cases, including 260 babies who died or were harmed.
I have nothing useful to say about maternity services for obvious reasons, but if you look at the repeated scandal/inquiry/“never again” loop in learning disability services you see the same pattern and arguably the same causes. (The extraordinary work of Sara Ryan is exemplary here). So the question is, what would bring about positive change? Because inquiries don’t, and it looks as if “politics as usual” can’t. (Also, the popular success of Adam Kay mystifies me).
Well said, Rowan! This piece has successfully made me angry about things I didn’t realise I was angry about! I have too many thoughts to articulate really but as I was reading this, I just kept thinking of The Yellow Wallpaper and how we really haven’t come that far!
I can't read this post due to PTSD from my own childbirth experience. But I agree with the headline. C-sections shouldn't become the default, but they should be offered on the NHS without judgement. I had to fight for mine elective C-section the second time around and I experienced just as much trauma from that process as I did when I nearly bled out with child number one.
I have nothing useful to say about maternity services for obvious reasons, but if you look at the repeated scandal/inquiry/“never again” loop in learning disability services you see the same pattern and arguably the same causes. (The extraordinary work of Sara Ryan is exemplary here). So the question is, what would bring about positive change? Because inquiries don’t, and it looks as if “politics as usual” can’t. (Also, the popular success of Adam Kay mystifies me).
Well said, Rowan! This piece has successfully made me angry about things I didn’t realise I was angry about! I have too many thoughts to articulate really but as I was reading this, I just kept thinking of The Yellow Wallpaper and how we really haven’t come that far!
I can't read this post due to PTSD from my own childbirth experience. But I agree with the headline. C-sections shouldn't become the default, but they should be offered on the NHS without judgement. I had to fight for mine elective C-section the second time around and I experienced just as much trauma from that process as I did when I nearly bled out with child number one.