East Kent NHS admits ‘failing families’ over stillbirths

Papers for a board meeting on Thursday, external contained a report by the acting CEO of the trust, Dr Des Holden, who apologised to the families involved.

Dr Holden wrote: “On behalf of the board, and personally, I am very sorry and apologise to the women and families, and their communities, where failings in our care are at the heart of these devastating outcomes.”

The board papers contained a further report, headed Response to the Independent Stillbirth Review, which said four cases were assessed as having care deficiencies likely to have affected the outcome for the baby.

In a further four cases, care issues were identified that may have contributed to the outcome.

The review found “recurrent and systemic weaknesses in the management of high-risk pregnancy, foetal surveillance, maternity triage, escalation and organisational learning”, documents said.

Documents also said since the review “there have, regrettably, been a further four term stillbirths from April 2026 and July 2026 and a further three in August 2026”.