Michael Buchanan

After the announcement that @DOckendenLtd will chair the Leeds maternity inquiry, @wesstreeting must appoint her to lead the maternity investigation in Sussex too. Sussex families have released the following statement:

Families in Sussex who've been calling for Ockenden's appointment to their review since June, feel frustrated by today's announcement. "It is impossible to imagine he [Streeting] would value the babies who died in Sussex any less than those who died in Yorkshire," they said.

NEW: Donna Ockenden has been appointed to chair the Leeds maternity inquiry. The appointment follows a u-turn by Wes Streeting who had previously told the families they could not have Ockenden. Their persistence forced him to change his mind. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

The review will examine care at the trust between 2011 and 2025. Shortly after announcing the inquiry in October, Streeting said Ockenden would not be the chair. Over the coming months, families said they'd lost confidence in him, and appealed to the Prime Minister to act.

Nottingham's NHS maternity services remain rated "requires improvement" by ⁦@CareQualityComm⁩ results from latest inspection from last May out today. CQC acknowledges delay in publication not ideal but says process takes time. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Whilst it is encouraging that Worthing Hospital maternity services have improved overall in the latest CQC report to Good. It is concerning that the Safety is rated as Requires Improvement. Improving safety must be a focus for UHSx Trust. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

"The fact that so much has been known for so long, and so little done suggests it is simply not a political priority. And that, in every sense, is a national shame." The Times on maternity services. #Echobox=1772172882" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">thetimes.com/comment/the-ti…

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity, I remain committed to bringing people and organisations together in order to transform maternity services through bold policy change. I spoke to the BBC about the Baroness Amos' interim report on maternity & neonatal services 🎥

@RosieDuffield1 Thank you - frustration is the polite way of saying it...

@BBCMBuchanan Thanks for all your work on raising these issues for so many years Michael, journalists reporting on yet more similar reports must also be incredibly frustrated at the lack of urgent action and change.

Racism and 'poor' staff relationships factors in maternity care failings, report finds bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

@DrLSpain They were repeated in the same trust bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

@BBCMBuchanan @BBCMBuchanan just seen the news report inc. the NHS promise the mistakes 'would never happen again' following the kirkup report. Worth asking whether those mistakes were repeated even at FGH. The challenge is in meaningful and sustained change.

My debut book The Trillion Dollar Conman is out in paperback today. It tells the scarcely believable life story of Russell King - a compulsive fraudster and master of his dark art. So grateful for all the support I've had for the book. shorturl.at/RTirz @iconbooks

As Chair of the APPG on Maternity, and as a harmed mother, I remain committed to securing truth, accountability and safer maternity care. Families deserve nothing less. My statement ⬇️

Streeting says he takes Leeds maternity care inquiry concerns 'extremely seriously' bbc.in/4s2yZwd

Another family speaks out about poor maternity care at UHSx Trust in 2024. The parents of a baby who died at five days old say they are "devastated and angry" after they believe warning signs were missed before their daughter was born. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

For millions of people, what happens in Westminster doesn't improve their lives. The promises are always empty, the drama is always irrelevant. We visited one community to look at what happens when politics fails. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Our new film for @bbcstoryville is available next week. Producer Sam Piranty and I spent years working with an international team led by @DHSgov undercover cops who track down and catch the very worst criminals - anywhere in the world. BBC4 and iPlayer from 17th Feb in the UK.

Please share - if families based in Sussex who have lost babies due to negligent care would like to make contact with others in the same situation - they can do so here: tfob.org.uk

Two mothers, two tragedies: Baby deaths highlight failings at one NHS trust, “"I think the most common theme I found with the staff was 'is this your first baby? Oh, you're just anxious,'" she says.” bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

@MartynPitman It is profoundly depressing Martyn. But it matters and so we’ll keep going until we’re no longer needed.

Your @BBCMBuchanan involvement with each one of the UK Maternity care scandals, extending right back to Morecombe Bay, must make today's revelation feel like ground-hog day. Yet again, your revelations uncover exactly the same deficiencies, including the ever-present dangerous...