MP echoes investigation call and asks people to come forward

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today echoed the call of the Chair of the Morecambe Bay Investigation panel, Dr Bill Kirkup and has asked anyone with evidence to who received unsatisfactory care to come forward.

Today the Government released an 'open letter' from Dr Kirkup calling for people to come forward. The Morecambe Bay Investigation has been set up to examine the historic standard of care received by mothers and babies in the maternity and neonatal service at the University Hospitals Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) and in any hospital they were transferred to, between 1 January 2004 and 30 June 2013.

In his letter, Bill Kirkup CBE Chairman of the Investigation says:

"As Chairman of the Investigation I would like to invite any families who previously received unsatisfactory care from the maternity and neonatal services at Furness General Hospital, Lancaster Royal Infirmary and Westmorland General Hospital during this time period to contact the Investigation to talk about their experiences. The Investigation is looking at both the deaths of mothers and very young babies as well as cases of babies who were injured in childbirth during this period. It will also look at how the Trust managed serious untoward incidents.

I know the death of a child or mother, or their injury during childbirth, is a very distressing event in a family's life. I have therefore made arrangements for any families, if they would prefer, to provide evidence in private and remain anonymous.

If you would like to contact the Investigation, my team are available by emailing correspondence@mbinvestigation.org or by calling 01772 536382 during normal office hours but can make arrangements to call you back at a mutually convenient time if that would be helpful.

I would like to thank you in advance for your assistance."

Tim said: "The only way we can get to the truth, learn lessons and make sure it doesn't happen again is if everyone who feels that they were let down or received unsatisfactory care gets heard. I hope that people come forward to Dr Kirkup's committee and make their voice heard.

"I will keep working and supporting local families affected and doing all I can to get to the truth. This investigation is a vital step in that direction, so we can try and get justice for the families."