More NHS maternity units criticised for poor cultures, bullying and staff shortages – The Independent

Posted October 1st, 2021 in birth, bullying, employment, hospitals, midwives, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy by tracey

‘Two more NHS maternity units have been criticised by the care watchdog over concerns about safety, with inspectors highlighting poor cultures and bullying as well as staff shortages leaving midwives visibly upset.’

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The Independent, 1st October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fear of more baby deaths as ministers stand firm on jailing pregnant women – The Guardian

‘Experts have warned that more babies could die in prison owing to the government’s expansion of female prison places and ministers’ refusal to grant multiple requests to end the incarceration of pregnant women.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

NHS trusts wrongly billing vulnerable migrants for maternity care, says charity – The Guardian

‘NHS trusts are wrongly hounding vulnerable migrant women for payment of bills of thousands of pounds for maternity care, according to a report.’

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The Guardian, 17th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog criticises hospital bosses for widespread bullying – The Independent

‘Inspectors have rated the leadership of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust as inadequate after hearing of widespread bullying and staff fearful of raising concerns.’

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The Independent, 15th September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hospital admits liability for baby’s death after ignoring mother’s concerns – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2021 in birth, hospitals, negligence, news, pregnancy by sally

‘A hospital has admitted liability for the death of a baby who was delivered stillborn three days after his mother’s complaints of fluid loss and severe pain were dismissed as wetting the bed.’

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The Guardian, 6th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Frozen eggs and sperm storage limit increased to 55 years – BBC News

‘Storage limits for eggs, sperm and embryos will go up to 55 years under government plans that ministers say will give people greater choice over when to start a family.’

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BBC News, 6th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Khan (Respondent) v Meadows (Appellant) [2021] UKSC 21 – Hailsham Chambers

‘In this highly anticipated judgment, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appeal and held that the Defendant doctor was only liable for losses which fell within the scope of her duty of care, thereby significantly reducing the damages recoverable by the Claimant.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 21st July 2021

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Firm that dismissed pregnant trainee cleared of discrimination – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 9th, 2021 in employment tribunals, equality, news, pregnancy, sex discrimination, solicitors by michael

‘A criminal defence firm has been cleared of discrimination allegations after telling a trainee solicitor she was being let go three weeks after she said she was pregnant.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘More work to do’ to improve Nottingham maternity units – BBC News

‘More needs to be done to bring maternity units at a city’s two main hospitals up to scratch, inspectors have said.’

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BBC News, 28th May 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hundreds of women forced to ‘wear face masks while giving birth’ – The Independent

‘Hundreds of women were forced to wear face masks while giving birth despite this violating formal rules, a new study has found.’

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The Independent, 14th May 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Agoraphobic pregnant woman can be forced into hospital, UK judge rules – The Guardian

‘Judge rules medical staff can use minimum force on woman who has barely left home in four years.’

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The Guardian, 14th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Entrepreneur with “strong views on breastfeeding” unfairly dismissed lawyer – Legal Futures

‘A Russian entrepreneur based in the UK with “strong views on the importance of breastfeeding” unfairly dismissed a lawyer after she took maternity leave, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 5th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rare appeal allowed over refusal by judge to adjourn final care hearing – Local Government Lawyer

‘A mother’s appeal of a decision by a family judge not to adjourn an imminent final hearing in care proceedings has been allowed in a “rare” case before the Court of Appeal.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th April 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021

Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act 2021

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Government agrees to call pregnant ministers ‘mothers’ – The Independent

‘The government has agreed to change the wording in its new maternity leave legislation from referring to “pregnant people” to “mothers” after the phrasing was rejected by the House of Lords – despite gender-neutral language being government convention.’

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The Independent, 26th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs pass ‘long overdue’ bill for ministers’ paid maternity leave – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2021 in bills, maternity leave, news, parliament, pregnancy by tracey

‘MPs have voted to give ministers formal paid maternity leave for the first time, hailed as an “important and long overdue change” as the government pledged to bring forward more sweeping maternity protections before the summer recess.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK ministers face legal action over lack of abortion services in Northern Ireland – The Guardian

‘Northern Ireland’s human rights commission (NIHRC) has launched a landmark legal action against the UK government for its failure to commission safe and accessible abortion services more than a year after abortion was made legal in the country, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Ministers told to ‘stamp out’ normal birth ideology in NHS – The Independent

Posted December 11th, 2020 in birth, codes of practice, government departments, health, hospitals, inquiries, news, pregnancy by tracey

‘Ministers have been told they must “stamp out” a “normal” birth ideology in NHS maternity services that puts babies and mothers lives at risk. The call came after an inquiry report into poor care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust found many women were medicated and forced to endure traumatic births with some being denied caesarean sections in order to keep rates low.’

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The Independent, 10th December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Consent and fertility – 2 Hare Court

Posted November 17th, 2020 in consent, deceit, news, pregnancy, rape by sally

‘This judgment, handed down in July 2020, examines the limitations of the meaning of consent within s.74 Sexual Offences Act 2003. It held that a man’s lie about his fertility should not be deemed to be so closely connected to the nature or purpose of sexual intercourse that it is capable of negating consent.’

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2 Hare Court, 2nd November 2020

Source: www.2harecourt.com

South Wales police defend use of Taser on pregnant woman – The Guardian

Posted October 23rd, 2020 in assault, firearms, news, police, pregnancy by sally

‘A police force has defended the use of a Taser by one of its officers on a pregnant woman who lost her baby after the stun gun was fired at her.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com