Police are actively looking at over 700 cases as part of its investigation into maternity care at The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospital Trust.

The investigation by West Mercia Police has identified 823 cases, dated between October 2003 and the present date, including four cases that have occurred since 2019.

It comes after a major report into maternity failings at an NHS trust has found that at least 210 deaths could have been avoided.

At least 201 babies could have lived if their care had been better, including 131 who were stillborn and 70 who died soon after birth, the Ockenden report found.

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Nine mothers also died whose deaths could have been avoided.

In 94 cases, babies suffered avoidable long-term injuries, including brain damage, because of a lack of oxygen during their birth.

Read more: The babies who died in the UK’s worst maternity scandal

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NHS maternity scandal: What lessons can be learnt after babies and mothers died?

At least 201 babies and nine mothers died as a result of maternity failings at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, report finds

Detective Chief Superintendent Damian Barratt said on Wednesday: “From the outset, the police investigation has been working closely with the Independent Review, the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospital Trust and with families.

“As a result, we have identified 823 cases, dated between October 2003 (the formation of the Trust) and the present date that we wanted to examine. Included in the 823 cases are four cases that have occurred since 2019.”

He continued: “Out of that 823 cases mentioned, 701 remain an active part of our investigation. 122 have been reviewed and a decision has been made that there is insufficient evidence for us to progress these cases any further.”

The Ockenden report, published last week, revealed the maternity care failings at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust to be the most damning maternity scandal in the history of the NHS.

The report looked into more than two decades of avoidable harm to babies and mothers at the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust.

Some families were told mothers were responsible for their own deaths.

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