catastrophic failures in maternity care at an nhs trust led to hundreds of babies dying or being left with life—changing injuries, a review has found. over 200 babies and nine mothers died when they should have been cared for by shrewsbury and telford nhs trust. the review into the failings was triggered cared for by shrewsbury and telford nhs trust. the review into the failings was triggered by a campaign by two families — who both lost baby girls. this is bittersweet, that we are missing daughters that should be with us today because their avoidable deaths were exactly that, avoidable, and we were lied to all the way through. the health secretary apologised to the families for the "unimaginable trauma" they'd suffered — and promised changes at a local and national level. also on the programme. russia says it will focus its assault on ukraine on the east of the country —

more evidence today of the destruction being caused. the mother of peter connolly, initially known as baby p, is approved for release from prison by the parole board. the government is to appeal. wanted star tom parker has died. he was 33 and died of terminal brain cancer. coming up on the bbc news channel, fifa investigates after mo salah good evening. the biggest review of maternity services in nhs history has found that catastrophic failures at shrewsbury and telford nhs trust

led to the deaths and injuries of hundreds of babies and mothers. the review by the senior midwife donna ockenden was initially tasked with looking into the deaths ofjust over 20 babies. but that grew to investigating nearly 1600 cases over 20 years from 2000 to 2019. today's findings show that repeated failures in maternity care led to the deaths of more than 200 babies. nine mothers also lost their lives and 94 children were left with life—changing injuries. donna 0ckenden said the trust often failed to investigate babies�* deaths — and she also highlighted concerns about present—day care. the health secretary sajid javid today apologised to those families and promised to make changes at a local and national level. 0ur social affairs correspondent michael buchanan has this report. year michael buchanan has this report. after yearfor tw children year after year for two decades, children that should have thrived never made it to school, entire classrooms never filled, whole lives

never lived. at least 201 babies might have survived had they received better maternity care. we now received better maternity care. - now know that this is a trust that failed to investigate, failed to learn, and failed to improve. people are not ready failings of the trust are not ready failings of the trust are unprecedented in history of the nhs. they lie to families, they didn't investigate when occurred. they hid many failings from nhs regulators. they hid many failings from nhs reuulators. , , ., they hid many failings from nhs regulators-_ regulators. this is all the more concerning _ regulators. this is all the more concerning when _ regulators. this is all the more concerning when his _ regulators. this is all the more concerning when his clear- regulators. this is all the more concerning when his clear that | regulators. this is all the more - concerning when his clear that major issues in safety were apparent in both the midwifery led unit and consultant settings. unfortunately, these cases were not isolated incidents and, through the timespan of our review, we have found repeated errors in care, which lead to injury to either mothers or their babies. it to injury to either mothers or their babies. , ., ., , ., , babies. it is thanks to the efforts of these two _ babies. it is thanks to the efforts of these two families, _ babies. it is thanks to the efforts of these two families, who - babies. it is thanks to the efforts of these two families, who each | babies. it is thanks to the efforts . of these two families, who each lost daughters in unavoidable circumstances seven years apart, that the review was set up. i

circumstances seven years apart, that the review was set up. i think we were absolutely _ that the review was set up. i think we were absolutely right - that the review was set up. i think we were absolutely right to - that the review was set up. i think we were absolutely right to do - we were absolutely right to do what we were absolutely right to do what we did, absolutely right. and i hope that all the other families that never had the opportunity to ask questions or didn't get the answer that they should have had, when they suffered their harm, i hope that they get answers.— suffered their harm, i hope that they get answers. criticism of this hos - ital they get answers. criticism of this hosrnital trust _ they get answers. criticism of this hospital trust is _ they get answers. criticism of this hospital trust is comprehensive i they get answers. criticism of this | hospital trust is comprehensive and it is absolutely what we have experienced and what we have been saying _ experienced and what we have been saying all— experienced and what we have been saying all along. experienced and what we have been saying all along-— saying all along. 11-year-old adam cheshire is — saying all along. 11-year-old adam cheshire is profoundly _ saying all along. 11-year-old adam cheshire is profoundly disabled, i cheshire is profoundly disabled, after developing an infection shortly after birth. at least 94 children, said the review, had been left with life changing injuries such as cerebral palsy, due to poor treatment. adam's mother believes he is one of them. treatment. adam's mother believes he is one of them-— is one of them. they had induced me sooner because _ is one of them. they had induced me sooner because natural _ is one of them. they had induced me sooner because natural labour - is one of them. they had induced me | sooner because natural labour wasn't starting, if they had monitored him appropriately after his birth, if they had make sure you fed, if they

had even taken me seriously when i was saying there was something wrong, that's why i believe they are responsible for all of those warning signs that they missed. in responsible for all of those warning signs that they missed.— signs that they missed. in the commons _ signs that they missed. in the commons today _ signs that they missed. in the commons today the _ signs that they missed. in the commons today the english . signs that they missed. in the - commons today the english health secretary sajid javid said the report made for harrowing reading. do all of the families that have suffered so bravely, i am sorry. the report clearly shows that you were filed by a service that was there to help you and your loved ones, to bring life into this world. we will make the changes that the report says are needed, at both local and national level.— says are needed, at both local and national level. nine women died in childbirth that — national level. nine women died in childbirth that might _ national level. nine women died in childbirth that might also - national level. nine women died in childbirth that might also have - childbirth that might also have survived, had the trust provided better care, had the culture been open, supportive and transparent, but these are not historical problems. today's report says that there are significant concerns about ongoing maternity services. the trust chief executive apologised for

the failings and said they would improve. i the failings and said they would imrove. . ., the failings and said they would imrove. _, ,., improve. i welcome the report because it _ improve. i welcome the report because it gives _ improve. i welcome the report because it gives us _ improve. i welcome the report because it gives us that - improve. i welcome the report - because it gives us that opportunity to make sure based on the findings of her review, talking to all of those families so that we can improve care going forward. ., ., that we can improve care going forward. ., t, h, t , forward. having had her concerns repeatedly _ forward. having had her concerns repeatedly ignored, _ forward. having had her concerns repeatedly ignored, today, - forward. having had her concerns repeatedly ignored, today, the i repeatedly ignored, today, the families that they felt had revealed the true scale of the trust's failings, but it was more of a moment of relief and celebration. are candy trust go from this? something needs to happen. —— where can the trust go. for something needs to happen. -- where can the trust go-_ can the trust go. for me this is bittersweet. — can the trust go. for me this is bittersweet, because - can the trust go. for me this is bittersweet, because we i can the trust go. for me this is bittersweet, because we are i can the trust go. for me this is i bittersweet, because we are missing daughters _ bittersweet, because we are missing daughters that should be with us today— daughters that should be with us today because they are avoidable deaths _ today because they are avoidable deaths were exactly that, avoidable, and we _ deaths were exactly that, avoidable, and we will _ deaths were exactly that, avoidable, and we will lie to all the way through. _ and we will lie to all the way through, and we have been vindicated -- we _ through, and we have been vindicated -- we were _ through, and we have been vindicated —— we were lied to all the way through _ -- we were lied to all the way throu~h. ~ -- we were lied to all the way through-— -- we were lied to all the way throuth, ., ~' ., m ., -- we were lied to all the way throu~h. t, ,, ., a t, ., through. we can talk to michael who has reported — through. we can talk to michael who has reported extensively _ has reported extensively on these stories. these are shocking findings. what will change as a

result? ., findings. what will change as a result? t, t, findings. what will change as a result? ., ., ., result? donna ockenden told me today that she could — result? donna ockenden told me today that she could not _ result? donna ockenden told me today that she could not remember— result? donna ockenden told me today that she could not remember a - result? donna ockenden told me today that she could not remember a time i that she could not remember a time within the nhs where there was greater focus on improving within the nhs where there was greaterfocus on improving maternity care, and she believes improvements will follow from this report. you heard sajid javid committing to following through on the recommendations. last week nhs england announced an additional £127 million of investment into maternity care in england. but there is scepticism that these recommendations will be enacted and for one particular reason and that is morecambe bay. that was a report published in 2015 into maternity failures in cumbria. it found similar problems that have now been discovered in shrewsbury, a reluctance to carry out cesarean sections, perteamwork reluctance to carry out cesarean sections, per teamwork between midwives and obstetricians, and ongoing review is due this year to report other problems in maternity care in nottingham and in east kent, so there is a lot of work to be done, a lot of scepticism that it

will be actually done, and this evening the focus is very much on the families here in shropshire, who were filed repeatedly by this trust. thank you, michael buchanan, reporting for us. and if you've been affected by this news details of organisations offering information and support are available at bbc. co. uk/actionline, or you can call forfree, at any time to hear recorded information on... there's more evidence tonight of the devastating impact the russian assault is having on civilians in ukraine. it comes as fighting is continuing around the capital kyiv and other northern cities, despite russia's pledge yesterday to draw back from these areas. in the south, too, russian forces have advanced further into the ruined city of mariupol — while in mykolaiv, 12 people were killed by a russian strike. in the east, russia's defence ministry has said they are focusing on the donbas region.

meanwhile in russia itself, there's more evidence of a clampdown on internal dissent. more on that in a moment from our russia editor steve rosenberg. but first, our correspondent wyre davies reports from the front line town of 0rikhiv in southern ukraine on civilians who are victims in this brutal war. russia says it is not deliberately targeting civilians in this war. but there is no other description for what happened to natalia than deliberate. it is a miracle that she is still alive, after the day russian troops occupied her town. translation: i walked to where my mother lived. a soldier stopped me and i raised my hands. i told them i had been let through, but the soldier fired a burst of gunfire, hitting me in the legs. hitting me everywhere from the waist down. everything is damaged. my private parts, too. he was shooting to kill. 0rikhiv is the next

town along the southern road from where natalia was shot. still in ukrainian hands, but regularly shelled by russia. this village is the last one before the front line. shells land in these fields periodically and the next village, down the road, is occupied by russian troops and civilians have been killed in these villages. now, many younger people have left here already, but others in particular, the elderly, they remain and they know that they are taking a big risk. lyda's modest farm is right at the edge of 0rikhiv, the most exposed, dangerous part of town. she takes me to see where she sleeps. not in the house, but in this cold, damp cellar. primitive cover from the russian shells. iam hiding here in this bunker, because they are bombing us and attacking us

from each side, says lyda. i hate them, i hate them. we used to live in peace and we were happy. speculation about russian troop withdrawals around kyiv is treated with scepticism here in the south, where heavy fighting continues. russia's assault on mariupol is intense. civilians like natasha, who was blinded by russian shelling, are still suffering. translation: my sons were in the basement. l the 19—year—old visits me, but as for the five—year—old, i don't think he should be seeing his mum like this. i miss them so much. i want to give my little boy a hug and a kiss. wyre davies, bbc news, orikhiv.

there were peace talks this week, but there's no peace yet. the russian military released these images of it launching ballistic missiles towards ukraine. an army spokesman said russia was continuing its special military operation, and had destroyed fuel storage sites, arms depots, and ukrainian drones. continuing in russia, encouraged by the authorities, public displays of support for the offensive. these buses forming the letter z, that's painted on russian military vehicles in ukraine. you will find zs on billboards, on government buildings, even on the side of theatres. and here, this is the home of human rights activist, oleg arlov. have become targets of abuse.

translation: russia is heading i towards, in fact has almost arrived at, something very similar to what we saw— in germany in the 19305. everything feels very familiar. and that's important. - in russia right now, there is no room for alternative views. for public expressions that contradict the official opinion. and that is particularly true of events in ukraine. the kremlin wants the public here to believe that the russian offensive there is both necessary and just. the russian authorities have banned the word "war", in relation to ukraine. so, when dimitry took part in an anti—war protest, he didn't use any words at all. he was still arrested, though, and fined for "discrediting the russian army". translation: i was detained within 30 seconds. _ i don't think it would have mattered

what was written there. _ some people have been. arrested forjust holding up a plain piece of paper. because everyone knows what it means and what it stands for. _ in vladimir putin's russia, even the slightest hint of dissent is seen by those in power here as a significant threat, to be eliminated. but, in a country where opposition to the government has been crushed, where critical voices have been silenced, where the media is under almost total state control, for now, the kremlin doesn't feel under any public pressure to make peace in ukraine. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. jeremy bowen is in the ukrainian capital, kyiv. president biden and president zelensky have been speaking this afternoon. what has come out of your conversation? ihla afternoon. what has come out of your conversation?— conversation? no doubt they were

talkin: conversation? no doubt they were talking first _ conversation? no doubt they were talking first of _ conversation? no doubt they were talking first of all _ conversation? no doubt they were talking first of all about _ conversation? no doubt they were talking first of all about what i conversation? no doubt they were talking first of all about what has i talking first of all about what has been happening, those hopes of progress coming out of istanbul dissipated quickly with shelling overnight and into today. i actually went to a large food warehouse that might have been hit by one of those missiles that was wired out of russia. there was a massive amount of damage there. in the readout of that meeting, between the two leaders, that came out of the white house, there was no talk about any truce or peace agreement, it was all about the things that america could give the ukrainians to continue with their fight. give the ukrainians to continue with theirfight. and give the ukrainians to continue with their fight. and what is give the ukrainians to continue with theirfight. and what is happening now is a transition into a longer, more attritional war, and while it is a good thing that diplomacy is being talked about, both sides, the russians and ukrainians, are not ready to make the necessary concessions. take the ukrainians themselves. in return for neutrality, they want to have legal, binding guarantees from big countries like the us that they

would be helped out, if there was another war. would be helped out, if there was anotherwar. i would be helped out, if there was another war. i can't see the russian signing up to that but i'm not sure of the americans even would like to, as well. , , 1, ,., the government has been accused of putting "paperwork ahead of people" by lib dems, after new figures revealed fewer than 3,000 visas have been issued for refugees coming to the uk through the homes for ukraine scheme. 28,300 people have applied for a visa via this route, which lets people in the uk host ukrainian refugees. butjust 2,700 visas — that's10% of the applications — have been granted. under another scheme for those with close relatives living in the uk, just under 23,000 ukrainians have been given visas. the government has admitted the system is not perfect and they are trying to speed things up. our correspondent lucy manning reports. that's her. that's her, isn't it? yeah. ajourney 11 years in the making, war and refuge reuniting them.

hello. i'm so glad you're here. oh, my god. a decade ago, claire and herfamily took in diana, visiting with the chernobyl children's charity. now she's brought diana back to england, this time with her mum. how do you feel now you're here? translation: we are in safety. this is amazing, and i knowl that my daughter is in safety and we are very grateful to claire for hosting us~ _ they fled from heavily—bombed irpin. translation: we had to find the courage to choose - the safest moment for us to escape the shelling. i they are very, very brave, making that really terrifying journey. i just can't tell them how incredibly sad i am that they've had to make thatjourney. but the reality is not many families are getting through on this scheme so far.

there is deep, deep frustration that matches are still being done on facebook mainly and that visas are taking nine, ten, 11, even more days to be issued. yulia and her daughter have now waited 11 days in a polish refugee centre. the uk's visa system not as quick as the speed they fled their homes. come and play in our garden. the contrast in essex couldn't be greater. generosity awaits them, but those waiting for them feel despair. so i'm suggesting you as quick as it's possible that we can. i check my mailbox every hour. the scheme has been slow. it's frustrating. the process hasn't been thought through enough. it's embarrassing, to some points, having to ask every day, have you had any news on your visa? it's just constantly no.

people have opened their arms but few have had the chance we co nta ct we contact the government and later this afternoon those two women were told they could come to the uk. people have opened their arms but few have had the chance to wrap them round those who really need help. claire, what's your main task now? to teach them english, to introduce them to fish and chips. er, i'm going to give them a bit of breathing space to settle in. the government says it's improved the visa process but, when your whole life fits into a car boot, every day waiting is a day too long. lucy manning, bbc news. our top story this evening... a review has found catastrophic failures in maternity care at an nhs trust led to hundreds of babies dying or being left with life—changing injuries.

still to come, the government says it's taking action to force pm doe to rethink their to sack 800 workers. —— p and o. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel... rounding on the boo—boys — england's players and the manager, gareth southgate, criticise fans who jeer harry maguire at wembley before their 3—0 friendly win over ivory coast. campaigners are urging the government to rethink proposed changes to social care funding in england, which would require disabled people to pay up to £86,000 towards their care over their lifetime. ministers have defended the plans as "fair" and say that they will provide certainty and reassurance for people, but critics say they could leave some people without protection from high care costs. mps are debating the proposals today. our disability correspondent, nikki fox, reports nadia is 29 and lives with her parents. she has cerebral palsy and is profoundly deaf, and so far she's struggled to get a job.

i would absolutely love to hold down a paid, long—termjob. she relies on full—time care, which is funded mainly by her local authority, but partly by nadia from her benefits. under the government's proposals, only the personal contributions from her benefits will count towards a new £86,000 cap, meaning nadia and others like her may never reach the cap and spend the rest of their lives paying towards the support they need. i do not choose to need care and support, and i wish i didn't need it. i feel that, by making me pay care charges, i am discriminated against because of my disability. is that your book? it is. chloe also lives at home and needs a fair bit of support. she's an author, and her debut novel is about to be published. i'm really proud of my achievements, but what people don't see are the financial burdens that i have as well — things like equipment, paying for my wheelchair.

under the new proposals, she will be able to build up more savings than in the past. but she feels the new measures will still hold her back. as soon as i hit that threshold, i'll be paying more and more in terms of contributions towards my care. it does make you feel worthless, because that isn't an experience that a non—disabled person faces. they will never have to think of that dilemma in their mind of, well, if i accept this promotion, that means i'm going to have to pay more for my care. disabled people will be facing this charge from the age of 18. it's a cap for the aspirational. this was the government's one big chance to level up for disabled people, and it has not done that. the government says its reforms are fair because everyone will pay the same towards their care costs. but campaigners say the proposals will leave those who are less well—off still facing substantial costs, and ultimately disadvantage

working—age disabled people just because they need support to live. nikki fox, bbc news. a 15—year—old boy has been found guilty of killing a teenager in birmingham last may. dea—john reid, who was 14, went out to play football and, following a confrontation over a bag, was attacked by a group shouting racial slurs and stabbed. the convicted teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of manslaughter and will be sentenced in may. the parole board has said that the mother of peter connelly, known as baby p, should be released from prison. tracey connelly was jailed in 2009 over the death of her 17—month—old son. he had suffered more than 50 injuries during months of abuse at the family home in tottenham, in north london. thejustice secretary, dominic raab, has said he plans to appeal against the decision. our home affairs correspondent, june kelly, reports. his name was peter, but for a long

time, for legal reasons, he was known as baby p. and that is how the country became familiar with his face, his blonde hair and his story beyond the picture. peter was 17 months old when he died in 2007. he had suffered more than 50 injuries, including a broken back. his mother, tracey connelly, was jailed for causing or allowing peter's death. her boyfriend, steven barker, and his brother, jason owen, were convicted of the same offence. tracey connelly was let out of prison on licence in 2013, but two years later, she was sent back for breaching her licence conditions. in this highly emotive case, three times down the years, a parole panel decided peter's mother should remain behind bars. now, a panel has decided

she is safe to be freed. but this afternoon, the justice secretary stepped in. in light of the parole board's direction to release tracey connelly, i should inform the house that having carefully read the decision, i have decided to apply to the parole board to seek their reconsideration. and thejustice secretary has announced a change to the system, so that in future those guilty of causing or allowing the deaths of children, such as in the baby p case, could have their parole blocked by ministers. the same will be true for others convicted of the most dangerous crimes. june kelly, bbc news. the conservative mp jamie wallis has revealed that he has gender dysphoria — he's the first mp to come out as trans. in a highly personal statement, he said he'd been blackmailed over his wish to become a woman and the perpetrator had been jailed. mr wallis, who's the mp for bridgend, also revealed he was raped last year. he thanked his colleagues

for their support. the transport secretary, grant shapps, says the government is taking action to force p&o ferries to "fundamentally rethink their decision" to sack 800 workers. mr shapps said uk ports would be given statutory powers to refuse access to ferry companies that do not pay the minimum wage. our transport correspondent, katy austin, is in dover. tell us more. yes, that's right, there have _ tell us more. yes, that's right, there have been _ tell us more. yes, that's right, there have been lots _ tell us more. yes, that's right, there have been lots of - tell us more. yes, that's right, there have been lots of strong | tell us more. yes, that's right, i there have been lots of strong words and condemnation from the transport secretary recently about what p&o ferries did but today he outlined nine measures which were intended to strengthen protection for seafarers, notably around pay, including working with other countries, including france, to set up a minimum wage corridors between the uk and other nations, also action to prevent employers using so—called fire and rehire tactics without

trying hard enough to reach agreement through full consultation, with a new statutory code, and a key point, plans to ensure she sports can refuse access to ferry services where people aren't being paid national minimum wage. that will require legislation but ports are being asked to stop doing it straightaway, and there has been some resistance the idea from ports trade bodies this evening, saying it could be unworkable. we have heard some detail about what the government plans to do, nearly two weeks after p&o ferries did what it did and decided to sack 800 seafarers. none of it will mean they get their old jobs back on their old terms and pay, and the deadline for responding to their redundancy offer is tomorrow. responding to their redundancy offer is tomorrow-— is tomorrow. hollywood star bruce willis is stepping _ is tomorrow. hollywood star bruce willis is stepping away _ is tomorrow. hollywood star bruce willis is stepping away from i is tomorrow. hollywood star bruce willis is stepping away from his i willis is stepping away from his acting career due to health issues. his family shared that the act had recently been diagnosed with a degenerative brain condition which

impedes a person's ability to speak and write. he said it had been a challenging time. the wanted star tom parker has died after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. he was 33. the singer told fans that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable and terminal tumour in october 2020. our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, reports. cheering and applause. the wanted in 2011, performing their latest number one... # can you spend a little time... ..with tom parker at the microphone. they were one of the most successful boy bands of the last decade. # the night is getting colder... fans saw tom as the joker of the group, with more energy than all the others put together. i still can't believe this is my life. and never one to let an opportunity slip past. i am actually in love with you, i really am, i think you're beautiful. come and sit next to me.

cheering and applause. as well as a string of hits and millions of fans in the uk... wembley stadium! how are you all doing today? ..they also achieved huge success in the us... well, hello! ..at their peak, meeting the then first lady michelle obama at the white house. millions of new fans watched him reach the semi—finals of celebrity masterchef. and in 2017, he returned to his musical roots in grease. # ripped at the seams... one, two, three, four. because at heart, all he ever wanted to do, was to entertain people. through music. # the only thing i'll never know. # how do you get up from an all—time low? applause.

the wanted star tom parker, who has died at the age of 33. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. spring is on hold. in fact, it is cold enough out there right now for some of us to be seeing some snow. this was the scene earlier on for a weather watcher in west yorkshire, with a band of rain, sleet and snow pushing south and ahead of its heavy downpours of rain. behind it, wintry showers, but this band of rain, sleet and snow give some forecasting headaches overnight. much of what fall at low levels will be rain but some sleet and snow over high ground, and possibly some wintry weather getting down to quite low levels. certainly it will be turning cold, temperatures down to —4 or —5 in parts of scotland and northern ireland. ice could be an issue tomorrow morning in eastern scotland and north—east england and we will see some sunshine and wintry showers. a mix of sleet and snow in

many places, particularly wintry on