23.10.13
Inadequate staffing levels at Medway maternity services
Maternity services at Medway NHS FT are failing, a new report from the CQC warns. The unit at Medway Maritime Hospital failed six key points of inspection, with too few midwives and poor care.
Medway NHS FT was one of the 14 trusts investigated by Sir Bruce Keogh this year for higher than average mortality rates, and was put into special measures to improve performance.
The CQC found that Medway Maritime Hospital must take urgent action on staffing levels, monitoring of performance, the welfare of patients, respect and privacy, and management of medicines.
Difficulties were reported around women who do not have English as their first language, and the room for bereaved mothers was not soundproofed, making their loss harder to bear.
Adrian Hughes, regional director of the CQC, said: “While patients and relatives we spoke to said that the care they received were good, we had serious concerns about the care and treatment that women have been receiving in maternity and midwifery services at Medway Maritime hospital.”
Professor Hasib Ahmed, clinical director for women's services at the trust, said: “Thousands of mothers choose to give birth at Medway Maritime Hospital and our specialist staff safely deliver over 5,000 babies every year. We are making positive progress with our midwifery recruitment, appraisal and mandatory training.
“We are also reminding staff of our local governance processes and systems which ensure that we continuously improve and enhance our maternity services to build on the excellent patient feedback we receive.”
Pat Gould, regional head for Southern England at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This report is a cause for concern. We would expect the trust to take immediate action to tackle these and the other problems in the areas identified by the CQC.
“This is an important wake-up call for the management of this Trust to focus on maternity services, support their midwives who are doing a very good job under what appear to be very difficult conditions and, ensure that the women of the area get the service they need and deserve.”
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