Anna Dixon MP calls for urgent improvements to maternity care in Bradford after harrowing local cases

Anna Dixon, Member of Parliament for Shipley, last night called for urgent national action to improve maternity safety, citing harrowing local cases in Bradford as examples of failings.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on a petition calling for the appointment of a maternity commissioner, Ms Dixon highlighted that failures in maternity care have been repeatedly identified for more than a decade, yet the recommendations have not been implemented. 

The MP shared the experience of a Bradford constituent whose son suffered a catastrophic brain injury at birth after delays in emergency intervention. The family later discovered that Apgar scores and timings had been falsified in the medical record.

Anna Dixon MP said: “I hear a range of stories as a constituency MP. Those are mainly centred on Bradford Royal Infirmary, and I want to share the story of a constituent whose son was born with complications. 

“A late crash call was made after he had been delivered, but sadly, he suffered catastrophic brain injury. The woman and her son were sent home with no diagnosis, and the child has grown up with epilepsy and other problems due to his brain injury. 

“Sadly, it seems that midwives falsified the Apgar scores on the record and the time of the crash call. We have heard about defensive practice. We need a culture that changes it.

Anna Dixon made clear her view that this case reflects a wider national pattern in which families feel ignored, dismissed, or forced into lengthy legal battles simply to get answers.

The MP did, however, welcome the recent Care Quality Commission ratings for Bradford Royal Infirmary, which assessed maternity services as Good and neonatal care as Outstanding.

She added: “I am pleased to say that Bradford Royal Infirmary has recently received good and outstanding ratings from the Care Quality Commission, for maternity and neonatal care respectively. I know that staff are not complacent about the care they give.”

Dixon went on to stress the need for timely apologies, compassionate local resolution, and reforms such as exploring a no‑fault compensation scheme, saying: “Alongside a better complaints system - a reform of litigation and potentially a no-fault compensation scheme, would certainly go some way to creating a better environment. 

“At the moment, families often experience long legal battles following harm, which leads to clinicians and organisations becoming defensive.”

Anna Dixon concluded her speech by calling for the Government and NHS leaders to focus not only on policies but on, stating: “We need a system where staff feel supported to be open, where families are treated with compassion, and where learning is acted on - not filed away. Families in Bradford and across the country deserve nothing less.”