GOV.UK
Dr Bill Kirkup OBE
Chairman of the Morecambe Bay Investigation
Morecambe Bay Investigation
What we do
The Morecambe Bay Investigation looks independently at the maternity and neonatal services in Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
Between January 2004 and June 2013 there were a series of deaths of mothers and newborn babies in the maternity and neonatal services unit at Furness General Hospital. Several reviews took place during this period. However, these reviews have not given those affected confidence that all of the facts have been heard and all of the underlying issues have been resolved.
On 12 September 2013 the Secretary of State for Health therefore announced an independent investigation into Morecambe Bay Maternity and Neonatal Services.
What the investigation will cover
The investigation will focus on the actions, systems and processes of the Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. It will also investigate the actions of regulators and commissioners where those actions affected the safety of maternity and neonatal services provided by the Trust.
This investigation will be chaired by Dr Bill Kirkup CBE, who has experience as a senior public heath doctor and has served on a number of previous independent investigation panels.
The ‘Morecambe Bay Investigation: terms of reference’ for the investigation provide full details of what the investigation will cover.
Who will investigate
Dr Kirkup will be supported by a panel of expert advisors in obstetrics, midwifery, paediatrics, nursing, ethics and how hospitals are run (clinical governance).
How the investigation will run
Several organisations will provide the investigation with written evidence, including:
- University Hospital Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust
- Department of Health
- NHS England
- Monitor
- Care Quality Commission
- Healthcare Commissioner
- Health and Safety Executive
- Public Health England
- Cumbria Constabulary
The investigation will also hear from:
- those involved and their relatives
- those responsible for the delivery, management and regulation of maternity and neonatal services
- anyone else with relevant information
All of the evidence will be considered by the chairman, supported by the expert panel. Details of the oral evidence sessions will be published on this website when available. The ‘Morecambe Bay Investigation: method statement’ gives further details on the investigation’s methodology.
The investigation is based in a building managed by Lancashire County Council and can be contacted directly by email or in writing.
Report and recommendations
The investigation will report to the Secretary of State for Health by summer 2014.
Documents
Our announcements
-
Morecambe Bay Investigation timeline
- 25 March 2014
- Press release
-
Morecambe Bay Investigation: call for affected families to get in touch
- 6 March 2014
- News story
Our publications
-
Panel meeting: 3 April 2014
- 2 April 2014
- Independent report
-
Meeting with Families in Barrow-in-Furness: 24 March 2014
- 27 March 2014
- Independent report
Our management
Contact Morecambe Bay Investigation
Morecambe Bay investigation
Third Floor - Park Hotel
East Cliff
Lancashire
PR1 3JT
Make an FOI request
- Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request
- Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question
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