Baby death ward faces closure

A MATERNITY ward at the centre of a police investigation over a number of baby deaths could be forced to close if it does not make rapid improvements.

The police inquiry follows the death of Joshua Titcombe nine days after his birth at Furness General Hospital in Cumbria in October 2008.

An inquest in June ruled the baby died of natural causes but that midwives had repeatedly missed opportunities to spot and treat a serious infection.

Cumbria Police said it was to widen its inquiry after a damning report into the labour ward by the Care Quality Commission. The CQC condemned University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust for its failure to improve standards.

Yesterday, Joshua’s father James Titcombe, 33, from Dalton, Cumbria, said: “We have not been able to grieve because we have had to fight for the truth and fight to establish what happened. My life has stood still for three years. Every second of the day my mind has been on Joshua and seeing justice done for him, so it’s been very, very hard.”

The CQC criticised the trust for care provision, including safety and welfare of patients, suitability of maternity facilities and the degree to which staff worked together.