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Canterbury mother calls for an end to stillbirth failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust
Overview
A Canterbury mother, Georgia Blinston Jones, has spoken out after losing her unborn son at 39 weeks, demanding an end to stillbirth failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. An independent review found that eight babies stillborn between June 2025 and March 2026 might have survived with better care, while subsequent full-term stillbirths have led to a further investigation. The trust has apologised for failing families and for not informing families about the reviews sooner, while the mother calls for practical changes rather than paperwork.
Key points
- Georgia Blinston Jones lost her unborn son Rowan at 39 weeks after experiencing multiple care mistakes and a lack of gestational diabetes checks.
- East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust apologised after an independent review revealed eight babies stillborn between June 2025 and March 2026 might have survived with better care.
- The review identified recurrent and systemic weaknesses in managing high-risk pregnancies, foetal surveillance, maternity triage, and escalation.
- An additional four full-term stillbirths occurred between April and July 2026, with three more in August, prompting another investigation.
- The affected family stated they were unaware of the reviews until media reporting brought them to light.
- The trust was previously the subject of a 2022 maternity review which found at least 45 babies might have survived with better care.