Message to parents and parents-to-be

Ockenden Review

We understand that today’s national news about the findings of the Ockenden Review may be worrying and, for some, very difficult to read. Our thoughts are with all the families whose experiences have led to these important recommendations, and we recognise the courage it has taken to share their stories.

At Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, our priority is the safety, dignity and wellbeing of you and your baby. We are proud of the dedication, professionalism and compassion of our teams. However, we also know that there is always more to do to improve, and we are fully committed to learning from this review.

We welcome the strengthening of patient safety measures, including the expansion of Martha’s Rule, which reinforces the importance of listening to women and families and acting quickly when concerns are raised. We are reviewing the recommendations from the Ockenden Report carefully and are committed to working collaboratively with our local, regional and national colleagues to ensure that:

• Every parent feels heard, respected and involved in decisions about their care
• Care is personalised to meet individual needs and preferences
• Concerns are taken seriously and responded to promptly and compassionately
• Our staff feel supported to speak up and continuously improve the care we provide

We want to reassure you that your voice matters. If at any time you are worried about your care, your baby’s wellbeing, or something doesn’t feel right, please tell us. Our Maternity and Neonatal teams are here to listen and to support you.

We also appreciate that this report may bring back difficult feelings or raise new concerns. If you would like to talk, ask questions, or seek reassurance, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can also speak directly to your midwife or a member of the maternity team at any time.

We remain committed to providing safe, compassionate and high-quality care for every family we serve, and to continually learning and improving to ensure that all parents receive the personalised care they deserve.

Your feedback is central to how we continue to learn and develop, you can share your experience confidentially, in a variety of ways through Kernow maternity and neonatal voices partnership through their website or searching @KernowMNVP on social media.

Your Maternity and Neonatal teams are here for you.

Baroness Amos’ Review

We know publication of Baroness Amos’ review of maternity and neonatal services in England, and the recent Ockenden Review, will have been concerning and emotional for many women, birthing people, families, and the maternity and neonatal teams who care for them.

We are carefully working through the recommendations alongside colleagues from across the NHS, both regionally and nationally. This will help us develop a shared action plan that builds on the improvements already underway at Royal Cornwall Hospitals.

Every parent, baby and family deserves outstanding care. We are committed to listening to the experiences of those who use our services, learning from feedback, and continuing to make improvements. Our maternity and neonatal teams work hard every day to provide the best possible care, and we remain focused on making services safer, kinder and better for everyone who relies on them.