NHS England investigates Oxford maternity scanning and C-section policies
NHS England has launched an investigation into Oxford University Hospital's maternity services, covering pregnancy scanning protocols and C-section policies, after deaths and harms were reported.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
An investigation has been launched by NHS England into maternity services at Oxford University Hospital trust, following reports of deaths and harms to babies. The move comes after a previous probe revealed problems with the trust's pregnancy scanning pathway, known as Oxgrip, which did not always follow national guidelines.
The investigation will examine, among other things, the trust's scanning protocols and its policies on maternal request caesarean sections. Until 2021, the trust had a strict policy against elective caesareans without a direct medical need, a stance that critics say put women at risk.
The case of baby Smokey, who died during labour at the hospital in 2023, has become a focus of concern. Her parents, Alice and Pedro, said they were repeatedly refused scans despite a midwife referring them for one. They have been fighting for accountability ever since.
In a joint investigation last November, journalists revealed questions about the Oxgrip scanning pathway, under which women were scanned up to 36 weeks, with additional scans only for those at high risk. National guidelines said moderate and high risk women should be offered further scans up to delivery. The trust initially defended the pathway, but last month dropped it and commissioned its own external review, which will look at safety, clinical effectiveness, governance, and the information given to women and families.
The Health Research Authority (HRA) also weighed in, saying it did not have evidence that the information provided to people was sufficiently specific for them to make an informed decision about taking part in Oxgrip between 2017 and 2024. The trust said it had taken steps to strengthen the information provided to patients, and repeated its apology for the loss of Smokey.
Alice and Pedro said they were never told about any research involving the pathway. They are now calling for a statutory public inquiry into England's maternity services, saying it is the only way to bring about the change needed to save more babies.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 4 |
|---|---|
| NHS England launched an investigation into maternity services at Oxford University Hospital, including scanning protocols and C-section policies. | |
| Oxford University Hospital had a policy against elective caesareans without direct medical need until 2021. | |
| The Health Research Authority said it had no evidence that information for the Oxgrip study was sufficient for informed consent between 2017 and 2024. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This is Channel 4's own investigation, so the coverage is deeply grounded in the reporters' findings. The tone is investigative and empathetic, focusing on the parents' struggle for accountability and the trust's alleged failings. It highlights the discrepancy between the trust's own protocol and national guidelines, and it calls for a wider public inquiry.
- “Now Channel 4 News has learned that NHS England has launched an investigation into maternity services at this hospital.”
- “We have had to fight constantly to even get any accountability, to get any acknowledgement.”
- “Until 2021, OUH had a strict policy against elective caesareans without a direct medical need, forcing some women to go through harrowing births.”
Broadcast Timeline
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