THE families who lost loved ones in a national maternity scandal say a review into the way a nursing regulator investigated their cases must be "truly independent".
Gross failings in care at Furness General Hospital's maternity unit resulted in the deaths of 16 babies and three mothers between 2004 and 2013.
Now, some of those affected have called for the Nursing and Midwifery Council to step back from an assessment of its own behaviour in relation to disciplinary cases against the midwives involved.
James Titcombe, whose baby son Joshua died aged nine days old in 2008, said the review would be "meaningless" unless it was completed by a panel working outside of the NMC itself.
"We have received a letter from the NMC asking if we would like to be involved in the lessons learnt review.
"But I would like an assurance that it will be carried out by someone entirely independent of the NMC and its executive board. Otherwise, it could end up as another whitewash."
The request has received the backing of Barrow and Furness MP, John Woodcock, who says the review should also look into the culture of the organisation as a whole.
In a letter to NMC chief executive Jackie Smith, Mr Woodcock wrote: "I know how hard James has worked to not only establish the truth about what happened to Joshua but to work for positive change and to improve patient safety for others.
"I wholeheartedly support his request for a fully independent review process to be set up not only to look at the Morecambe Bay cases but also at the NMC's treatment of the families involved and at the culture of the organisation as a whole."
The NMC has so far refused to issue an assurance that the review will be carried out independently. Neither has it provided information on who will lead the process once it gets under way.
A spokesman for the organisation said: "As these cases haven’t concluded yet, we can’t go into further detail at this time regarding the review."
Last year, the NMC commissioned a review into its handling of the disciplinary hearing of sacked FGH midwife Lindsey Biggs, who was found to have caused Joshua Titcombe to lose a significant chance of survival.
The organisation refused to release the findings of the report.
The NMC also faced criticism over its commitment to transparency last year when it opted to withhold details of allegations against nurses and midwives facing fitness to practise hearings.
It was later found to have placed Mr Titcombe under surveillance having monitored his social media account and set up a Google alert on his name.
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