BBC News, West Midlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A police investigation into maternity services at two hospitals has started interviewing current and former members of staff.<\/p>\n West Mercia Police began the inquiry in June 2020, while a review by senior midwife Donna Ockenden was ongoing – Ockenden would eventually find there had been catastrophic failings at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.<\/p>\n The police investigation was set up to explore whether there was evidence to support a criminal case against the trust or any individuals involved.<\/p>\n The hospital trust said it recognised it was important people get “the answers they have waited for” and that it was fully cooperating with police.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Ockenden inquiry examined maternity practices at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust over a period of 20 years.<\/p>\n Initially set up to examine 23 cases, it was widened to include almost 1,600 cases where there were concerns over maternity care.<\/p>\n It found the failures may have led to the deaths of more than 200 babies, nine mothers and left other infants with life-changing injuries.<\/p>\n Hundreds of the cases have been examined by police officers involved in Operation Lincoln.<\/p>\n The senior officer in the police investigation, Supt Carl Moore, said the start of staff interviews represented a new phase.<\/p>\n “We are committed to ensuring that the families involved are fully informed at each stage of our enquiries,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"BBC](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/3769\/live\/33240d90-4c54-11f0-ae71-69df9e8fb45a.jpg.webp\")
BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nImprovements made by hospitals<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n