![\"Getty](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6e47\/live\/7068ff50-75e3-11ef-a846-83b5370dc374.jpg.webp\")
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nMany of the maternity failings at scandal-hit hospitals are becoming more widespread, England\u2019s NHS regulator says.<\/p>\n
Investigations into units in Shrewsbury and Telford<\/a> and East Kent<\/a> found poor care may have contributed to babies dying or having life-changing injuries.<\/p>\n But the Care Quality Commission said these problems were also being seen elsewhere.<\/p>\n Its review of 131 units across the NHS highlighted issues with staffing, buildings, equipment and the way safety was managed, warning preventable harm was at risk of becoming \u201cnormalised\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: \u201cThese findings are cause for national shame. <\/p>\n “Women deserve better – childbirth should not be something they fear or look back on with trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n And the government would be working with struggling trusts to make rapid improvements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The CQC’s 16-month investigation targeted maternity units not inspected and rated since March 2021 \u2013 about two-thirds of the total and mostly those it had been least worried about.<\/p>\n Its review found examples of good practice but expressed concern about:<\/p>\n Overall, 48% were rated as inadequate or requiring improvement with around a quarter receiving a lower overall rating than when last inspected. On the single issue of safety, 65% were judged to be failing.<\/p>\n Details have also emerged about the findings of a separate investigation into two of those units that were judged as inadequate – the Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital, which are run by University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust. <\/p>\nBlame cultures<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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