Hospital ordered to improve maternity services

The Care Quality Commission have said that maternity services at Stoke Mandeville Hospital must be improved.

During an inspection in June, the health watchdog found staff shortages which could lead to unsafe practices, triage service issues and a bereavement suite based on a labour ward.

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which manages the hospital, said work was “under way to address the issues”.

Carolyn Jenkinson from the CQC said of the findings, “There were high vacancy and sickness rates, and staff told us the low numbers of staff made them feel like aspects of the service could be unsafe.

“Sickness rates were increasing as staff became more stressed.  However, leaders in the service took action to manage change when risks were identified.”

Ms Jenkinson added that delays in triaging women were discovered, while the triage area environment made it impossible to maintain confidentiality – concerning when safeguarding issues needed to be discussed.

Inspectors also criticised the location of the dedicated baby loss suite, adding “Bereaved families might have been able to hear babies cry and families celebrating.”

Although maternity services were found to need improvement, the volume of incidents was “not excessive” and the department was rated as good for being well led, and aspects of the services, including infection control, protecting women from abuse, and staff feeling valued, were singled out for praise.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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