Maternity services in Northern Ireland: Review calls for overhaul

Prof Renfrew based her findings on experiences told to her by women and their families, as well as midwives across the NI health trusts whom she said have enabled “open and honest dialogue”.

She said she hoped and expected the findings of pain and distress described in the report will be met with the respect and responses they deserve.

Unlike other reviews, the report details 32 evidence informed recommendations for action and is accompanied by a five year programme for change.

The professor said based on her findings it’s fair to say that “some women have been let down” by the wider system and she was shocked and saddened by some of the stories.

However, NI does not differ that much from the rest of the UK.

Prof Renfrew said she had heard examples from some women who suffered “serious loss and harm to their babies and to themselves – not all were preventable – we also heard from women about disrespectful communication and not being listened to was a really big theme”.

“There were also positive examples – so it is not a relenting picture of everything being wrong,” she said.

Many staff members were trying their best going over and above every day, but the problem was the wider system, said the review author.

“The key finding is that all the key components from the top down are not working together. They are not working effectively enough to support staff and not working effectively enough to focus on the needs of women and babies,” she said.