West Merseyside police are investigating 701 possible cases of poor maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals from 2003 to 2019, forces said.
The police investigation takes place after a brutal independent investigation that Reported last week That nearly 300 children died or suffered brain damage due to a care error.
In an updated report Wednesday, West Merseyside police said they had initially identified 823 cases but 122 had been investigated and they found no evidence that the cases could go further. The remaining 701 cases are still part of an active police investigation.
Detective Chief Supervisor Damian Barat said: “The affected families are aware of this decision and have offered ongoing support from our loyal family liaison team.
“The scope of a police investigation is different from an independent review, and there are parameters and limits to what can and cannot be involved in a criminal investigation. Therefore, as we continue to review the cases, the final number included in our investigation will vary and is likely to be significantly less than this 701.
“We have been and remain committed to ensuring that all possible potential cases are fully considered and that the families involved are fully informed during our investigation. They deserve nothing less.
“Our investigation remains with an active, focused and dedicated team, and we promise families, the Telford and Shrewsbury communities, and the general public that we will keep you informed as the investigation progresses.”
According to the report, The Sunday TimesPolice are also investigating the deaths of two children last year.
The police update came after an independent Ockenden investigation released its final report last week, which showed that more than 40 years of poor care had led to the deaths of 200 children. These included 131 stillbirths and 70 neonatal deaths, 29 cases of severe brain damage, 65 cases of cerebral palsy, and nine female deaths.
The report’s authors also warned that problems with maternity care continued in the trust and staff were still afraid to speak out.
