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Foundation trust gets warning notice after critical report into Furness general hospital’s maternity services The hospital trust at the centre of a police investigation into baby deaths has been issued with a warning notice by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) watchdog to improve within two months or be closed down. The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS foundation trust runs Furness general hospital in Cumbria, where nine-day-old Joshua Titcombe died in November 2008. Cumbria police are investigating the deaths of other babies as well as Joshua’s. The CQC issued a highly critical report on the hospital’s maternity services on Friday. It also handed the trust a warning notice detailing the improvements to be made and setting a deadline. An inquest in June ruled that Joshua died of natural causes but that midwives repeatedly missed opportunities to spot and treat a serious infection. The Cumbria coroner, Ian Smith, said staff had not listened to the baby’s parents and had failed to record proper notes and to spot that the baby was becoming seriously ill. Despite concerns being raised by his parents, midwives did not call in a doctor for some time, the hearing was told. It also heard that Joshua would have had at least an 80% chance of recovery if antibiotics had been given at birth. Joshua’s father, James Titcombe, said at the time that the inquest had been “thorough” and it would help the family move on. The trust admitted Joshua had been “let down”. Police said in a statement on Friday: “Cumbria police is continuing an investigation into a number of deaths that occurred after mothers and infants received care at the maternity unit in Furness general hospital. The investigation began following the death of Joshua Titcombe and detectives have now widened their investigation to include a number of other deaths. “The enquiries are detailed and complex so it is too early to determine exactly which of these cases, or how many others, the investigation may include as it progresses.” The cases being investigated by police are understood to include those of Niran Aukhaj and her baby, who both died in April 2008; Nittaya Hendrickson and her baby Chester, who both died in July 2008; and baby Alex Brady, who died in September 2008. Hendrickson, originally from Thailand, was admitted to the hospital on 31 July 2008 and her baby was induced. Minutes after her waters broke, she had a fit. Doctors were called but she had another fit and died shortly afterwards. An inquest ruled that she died of natural causes. It was discovered that baby Chester had suffered severe brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during the birth. Hendrickson’s husband, Carl, 44, from Ulverston, said: “Our family has been absolutely devastated by the death of Nittaya and Chester. My son Conrad has lost a wonderful mother. They were so close and he is so like her, it is as if she has poured herself into him. “Relations with Nittaya’s family in Thailand have also been damaged. Her family can’t accept her death without knowing the full facts and I still can’t give them the answers they need. I have been saying there were serious issues at the maternity unit of Furness general hospital for over three years. Although the media coverage is upsetting for me and Conrad, I do feel vindicated.” The trust said there had been “vast improvements” since 2008 and action plans had been submitted to the CQC. But during unannounced inspections in July this year the commission identified “major concerns” with staffing levels, risk management and outdated facilities at the hospital. NHS Health Helen Carter guardian.co.uk