Mothers and babies harmed by 'toxic' NHS culture - regulator

Mothers and babies being harmed in the NHS risks becoming "normalised" because of its "toxic" cover-up culture, a health leader has said after it emerged that 14 trusts were the focus of a national maternity investigation.

- Andrew Gregory

Charlie Massey, the chief executive of the General Medical Council, will tell a conference today that "something must have gone badly wrong" when trainee obstetrics and gynaecology doctors are fearful of speaking up.

The "tribal" nature of medicine, with doctors and other staff pitted against each other, could be preventing people raising their concerns or admitting when things go wrong, Massey will say.

The government has named 14 NHS trusts that are being examined as part of its rapid inquiry into maternity and neonatal services.