Dad whose son died at Furness General Hospital criticises conference

The International Normal Labour and Normal Birth Conference is due to be held in Grange next month.

But James Titcombe and other bereaved parents affected by maternity scandals across the country criticised the decision to hold the conference at the Grange Hotel 'on the shores of Morecambe Bay'.

They point out that a report into the Morecambe Bay maternity scandal found an 'overzealous pursuit' of a 'normal', or natural, birth led to unsafe care and resulted in the deaths of mothers and babies. 

Joshua, the son of James Titcombe, from Pennington, died in 2008 due to failings at Furness General Hospital.

Joshua Titcombe

Mr Titcombe is among the signees of a letter to England's chief nursing officer Dame Ruth May spelling out their concerns.

The term 'normal' has now been removed by the conference's organiser, the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

Mr Titcombe said: "Having a normal birth conference really close to where there was a major inquiry that found there was a normal birth dogma that contributed to failings is particularly insensitive.

"I'm glad they've changed the name but we need to make sure the messages and ethos match that."

James Titcombe with the report

In the letter the parents wrote of their 'deep concern and distress' over the conference.

In response Dame Ruth reportedly said she would write to UCLan to 'express my concerns about the language they continue to use'.

The event has been held at the hotel every other year since 2002 but the university now plans to rethink its location.

A spokesperson for the UCLan said: “The death of a baby is an unimaginable loss and all parents and families who have experienced this tragedy have our deepest sympathies.

"We have been contacted by some bereaved families who find the term 'normal' distressing, and, after listening to their concerns, we have decided to remove the term ‘normal’ from the title of our conference when it is run in the UK.

“This is an international research conference which has been running in the UK and overseas since 2001 and has been held every other year at the Grange Hotel for 20 years.

"For future conferences, we will be reviewing the location of the conference - however, given the amount of organisation that has gone into this year’s conference, which is just weeks away, finding a different venue at such short notice is not feasible.

“The conference focuses on spontaneous, physiological labour and birth. However, it also includes research and evidence and debate on other types of labour and birth.

"Evidence shows that, for healthy women and babies who choose this option, a physiological labour and birth is most likely to generate positive outcomes for both mum and baby if they are supported by skilled, compassionate staff, with good referral networks if things don’t go according to plan.

"The conference has always recognised that the safety, views, and experiences of mothers and babies needs to be at the heart of all practice decisions.

"We recognise that physiological labour and birth is just one element of the birth experience and the content of the conference over the years has never suggested this is the only way that women can or should give birth. The intention is to ensure that, when women and birthing people do make this choice, the staff involved can provide the best quality, compassionate, expert and evidence based support for them.

“We believe that undertaking, sharing and disseminating research in this subject area is vital in order to help protect the safety and wellbeing of all women and babies, and especially those who prefer this approach to labour and birth.”