Campaigners have labelled as 'dangerous' a recommendation by England's maternity commissioner to retain Dr. Kate Amos in her role, following a report that criticised her leadership during a maternity safety scandal.
Background of the controversy
Dr. Kate Amos, the former medical director at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, was heavily criticised in a 2022 inquiry into the trust's maternity services, which found that hundreds of babies died or were left with brain damage due to neglect. Despite this, the maternity commissioner, Dr. Bill Kirkup, recommended that she be kept in her current role as a maternity safety advocate.
Campaigner response
Melanie Rowland, whose daughter died due to failings at the trust, said: 'It is absolutely dangerous to have someone like Dr. Amos in a position of influence. She was part of a system that caused so much harm, and she should not be anywhere near maternity safety.' The campaign group 'Shrewsbury Mums' also expressed outrage, stating that the recommendation undermines trust in the maternity safety review process.
Official stance
The Department of Health and Social Care has distanced itself from the recommendation, with a spokesperson saying: 'The government does not endorse any individual appointments made by the commissioner. The focus remains on implementing the recommendations of the Ockenden report to improve maternity safety across the NHS.' Dr. Kirkup has defended his decision, arguing that Dr. Amos has valuable experience and has shown remorse for past failings.
Wider implications
This controversy comes as the NHS faces mounting pressure to address systemic maternity safety issues. A 2023 report by the Care Quality Commission found that one in three maternity units in England require improvement. Campaigners are calling for a complete overhaul of the maternity safety review system to ensure independence and accountability.
