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Bereaved families call for public inquiry into maternity care

News imageBBC Julie Keegan and Angus McLean stand in front of steps lined with baby shoes. They are holding a placard that reads Mason Matters and wearing t-shirts with the same words. BBC
Julie Keegan and Angus McLean's three-day old son Mason died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in 2023

Bereaved parents have come together in Glasgow to call for a public inquiry into the deaths of babies and mothers across Scotland.

A nine-month independent review of Scotland's maternity services started last month after families, staff and experts called for improvements to poor and sometimes deadly care in a BBC Disclosure investigation.

But families who have lost babies following failures claimed the current review would not go far enough, and have demanded "answers, accountability and justice for our babies".

Health Secretary Angela Constance said the voices and experiences of families "must be central" in informing the review.

Julie Keegan and Angus McLean were among campaigners in Glasgow city centre.

The couple's three-day old son Mason Scott McLean died after a series of errors in his care at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow in 2023.

Failures in Mason's care included missing key tests that would have indicated he had a life-threatening infection.

An internal review by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) found "several systematic issues" that may have caused his death.

But the couple said they were still trying to get answers to questions asked almost four years ago.

The health board apologised for "missed opportunities" for care and said it had taken action on the recommendations in the review.

"We want accountability and an independent public inquiry to find out how many of these babies could have been saved," Angus told BBC Scotland News.

"This is the only thing we can do now for Mason to honour him because he should still be here and we want to find out why he is not."

News imageCampaigners with children protest on the steps outside of Buchanan Galleries. They are holding up pink and blue placards with photographs on babies. Pairs of baby shoes line the stairs.
Campaigners gathered in Glasgow city centre to call for a public inquiry into maternity care in Scotland

Julie, who works as an NHS intensive care nurse, said families should not have to fight for answers and claimed the review would not be enough.

"I want to know why my child was allowed to die from failure after failure after failure," she said.

"The review is only forward looking, it is not going to look at the past and does not dig deep on the hundreds of babies who have lost their lives."

Unannounced inspections of all 18 maternity units in Scotland have been ordered to be carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, following a review into a number of spikes in new born baby deaths.

Common themes so far include staffing shortages, delays in care to pregnant women, and issues around investigations when things go wrong.

News imageBaby shoes lined up on a step. There are different styles and colours of shoes.
Shoes were lined up to represent the babies who had died from hospital failures

Lori Quate lost his wife and child within 24 hours in 2020.

A week before she was due to give birth, Jacqui was told her daughter had died in the womb and she would have to give birth to her stillborn daughter.

The 39-year-old was given medication to bring on the labour but suffered a cardiac arrest at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

Jacqui died two hours later from an amniotic fluid embolism - a rare and life-threatening emergency.

The next day, Lori found out his wife had been given eight times the recommended dose of the drug to bring on labour.

He said he was afraid the review would happen but the mistakes would continue.

"A lot of these end up with a placation of 'lessons will be learned' but nothing ever changes and it goes back to square one again," he said.

"It should be about making sure these avoidable deaths are unavoidable and talking to families which these mistakes have impacted."

He said the process could be exhausting and often took its toll, but he wanted to persevere and continue to give his voice.

News imageLori Quate holding a pink sign that reads Olivia Matters. He is wearing a blue waterproof jacket, grey scarf and glasses.
Lori Quate lost his wife and daughter at Ninewells Hospital in 2020

Christine McCourt, a professor of maternal and child health at City St George's at the University of London, is chairing the review.

Her findings and recommendations will be submitted in July 2027.

Angela Constance said: "One of my first acts as health secretary was to establish the independent review of maternity services and I am fully committed to ensuring lasting improvements are made.

"I have been clear that the voices and experiences of families must be central in informing the review.

"A forward-looking and improvement-focused independent review will identify the systemic changes needed now to strengthen services and achieve better outcomes for women, babies and families," she added.