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Cumbria hospital deaths: police widen investigation Cumbria hospital deaths: police investigation to focus on one baby
(1 day later)
A police investigation into baby and maternal deaths at a Cumbrian hospital has been widened to consider a number of cases, it has been confirmed. A police investigation into baby and maternal deaths at a Cumbrian hospital will look into the single tragic death of a child, it has been confirmed.
Only last week police said they would focus on just one death – that of nine-day-old Joshua Titcombe at Furness general hospital in 2008. Up to 16 babies and two mothers are feared to have died between 2001 and 2012 because of poor care at the maternity unit at the Barrow-in-Furness hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay foundation trust. The police said they would focus on just one death – that of nine-day-old Joshua Titcombe at Furness general hospital in 2008. Up to 16 babies and two mothers are feared to have died between 2001 and 2012 because of poor care at the maternity unit at the Barrow-in-Furness hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay foundation trust.
However, after the secretary of state announced that there would be an independent inquiry in the Commons into events at the hospital on Thursday, the Cumbrian police force confirmed there had been a decision to widen the case. "We are able to confirm that we are looking into a number of cases. We can't comment further until the independent inquiry reports," said a spokeswoman. However, after the secretary of state announced that there would be an independent inquiry in the Commons into events at the hospital on Thursday, the Cumbrian police force confirmed that only one death would be probed. Detective Inspector Doug Marshall said: "The investigation into the complaints received about Furness General Hospital Maternity Unit has been extremely complex. The investigation into the death of Joshua Titcombe is continuing.
The move sees the police revert to their original plan. The force's investigation into the death of Joshua was originally expanded after complaints from other families. An inquest had ruled he died as a result of natural causes, but staff missed opportunities to save him. The hospital trust has admitted Joshua was "let down". "In respect of the other complaints we have received in the course of that investigation we have been able to inform those family members that their cases will not proceed to a criminal prosecution. The families have been provided with information on how to progress their concerns with the Trust and a number of investigations involving other regulatory bodies are ongoing."
The force's investigation into the death of Joshua was originally expanded after complaints from other families. An inquest had ruled he died as a result of natural causes, but staff missed opportunities to save him. The hospital trust has admitted Joshua was "let down".
The political pressure is mounting on the health regulator to name the senior managers accused of covering up its own failures to spot weaknesses in Morecambe Bay. Publishing a damning report by the City consultants Grant Thornton, in which names are redacted, the Care Quality Commission's new chair said the old organisation had been "rotting from the head". A newspaper named two former directors of the CQC who it says were present at a crucial meeting when an official was ordered to delete a critical report.The political pressure is mounting on the health regulator to name the senior managers accused of covering up its own failures to spot weaknesses in Morecambe Bay. Publishing a damning report by the City consultants Grant Thornton, in which names are redacted, the Care Quality Commission's new chair said the old organisation had been "rotting from the head". A newspaper named two former directors of the CQC who it says were present at a crucial meeting when an official was ordered to delete a critical report.
John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, has written to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to ask him cover the CQC's legal costs if those named as linked to the cover-up attempt to sue. He said that if the CQC still refused to publish then Hunt should "overrule the organisation and publish the names himself".John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, has written to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to ask him cover the CQC's legal costs if those named as linked to the cover-up attempt to sue. He said that if the CQC still refused to publish then Hunt should "overrule the organisation and publish the names himself".
In a letter to the health secretary, Woodcock said: "The evidence of wrongdoing outlined in the Grant Thornton independent report released yesterday is deeply shocking. There is the possibility of criminal action against the perpetrators of a cover-up, and the public still do not know definitively whether officials who may have been complicit in it remain at the organisation or have been allowed to move to other jobs elsewhere in the health sector.In a letter to the health secretary, Woodcock said: "The evidence of wrongdoing outlined in the Grant Thornton independent report released yesterday is deeply shocking. There is the possibility of criminal action against the perpetrators of a cover-up, and the public still do not know definitively whether officials who may have been complicit in it remain at the organisation or have been allowed to move to other jobs elsewhere in the health sector.
"Grieving families in my constituency, and aghast members of the public across the country, rightly demand accountability for the appalling abuse outlined yesterday; it is in your power to deliver it.""Grieving families in my constituency, and aghast members of the public across the country, rightly demand accountability for the appalling abuse outlined yesterday; it is in your power to deliver it."
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem MP who called for a police investigation into the cover-up, has written to the information commissioner's office asking for clarification about whether the regulator can publish the names of those involved. He said he wanted "a quick and clear message [to] help the CQC and save them thousands in trying to obtain a legal opinion".Tim Farron, the Lib Dem MP who called for a police investigation into the cover-up, has written to the information commissioner's office asking for clarification about whether the regulator can publish the names of those involved. He said he wanted "a quick and clear message [to] help the CQC and save them thousands in trying to obtain a legal opinion".
Experts have warned that releasing the names could prejudice a police inquiry. The influential – and anonymous – Information Rights and Wrongs blog noted that "if the allegations quoted in the Grant Thornton report amount to allegations of possible criminal offences (eg misconduct in a public office) then there is an arguable need to avoid prejudice to any police investigation".Experts have warned that releasing the names could prejudice a police inquiry. The influential – and anonymous – Information Rights and Wrongs blog noted that "if the allegations quoted in the Grant Thornton report amount to allegations of possible criminal offences (eg misconduct in a public office) then there is an arguable need to avoid prejudice to any police investigation".
• This article, along with its headline, was substantially rewritten on 21 June 2013. The original version said that Cumbria police's investigation had been widened to consider other cases at Furness general hospital, and included a quote from Cumbria police saying: "We are able to confirm that we are looking into a number of cases." That quote was provided by an employee of Cumbria police, but they were mistaken. Quotes from Detective Inspector Doug Marshall, announcing that cases other than that of Joshua Titcombe would not proceed to a prosecution, have been added to the article.