Heatherwood and Wexham Park investigates maternity incidents

October board papers reveal that the trust had commissioned external reviews of 10 “serious incidents requiring investigation”. Seven of these occurred in July, and three in June.

The trust would not give further detail on the nature of the incidents, but HSJ understands all relate to the quality of clinical care given.

The department previously saw clusters of serious incidents in 2010 and 2011.

November board papers said training programmes were rolling out in maternity services, which was “now moving to the next stage targeting individual consultants”. External consultants were supporting the programme.

The trust also received seven complaints about obstetrics in August, although only recorded one serious incident. The board papers said all the complaints included “issues surrounding staff attitude”, while half “also have clinical care included”.

Heatherwood and Wexham Park chief executive Philippa Slinger said: “There was a cluster of maternity serious incidents that have been internally and externally reviewed.

“There is no common factor and therefore the cluster is coincidental.”

Adrian Hayter, chair of the local Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It may be individual cases may not be linked. There may not be one particular root cause but culture and leadership is something we have to get right in all areas.

“We know systems where culture and leadership is really good, means really good outcomes for patients.”