// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
NHS admits 'failing families' over stillbirths
The stillbirths all occurred at the East Kent NHS trust between June 2025 and March 2026
An NHS trust has apologised after an independent review found that eight babies might have survived with better maternity care, admitting it has "failed families".
The stillbirths all occurred at the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust's hospitals between June 2025 and March 2026.
An independent review ordered by the trust found systemic issues lay at the heart of the failures. These included failures to manage high risk pregnancies, provide appropriate triage, identify foetal growth concerns, and make appropriate use of interpreter services.
Since the report, a further seven stillbirths have occurred, including three last month. A review into those deaths has now been ordered.
All the stillbirths occurred after 34 weeks gestation.
Three years ago, the Kirkup report found 45 babies might have survived at the trust's hospitals if they had received better care.
The East Kent NHS trust runs the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate.
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."