The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed last month that Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust would face criminal charges over the death of primary school teacher Frances Cappuccini. The 30-year-old had died following an emergency caesarean in October 2012. The landmark legal case is the first time that a trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter since the offence was introduced seven years ago. The trial is set to take place at the High Court next year.

Corporate manslaughter charges could increase

Julia Morrill, head of Lester Morrill’s clinical negligence department, said: 'Like all organisations, senior management at NHS Trusts need to be held accountable for their actions. Although removed from directly treating patients, their decisions and polices affect the care patients receive  It is simply unfair to scapegoat individual doctors if senior management do not provide them with the resources and support to properly perform their roles.' She warned that with NHS Trusts across the country battling limited funding, the number of corporate manslaughter charges could increase.