More work needed on maternity care at scandal-hit NHS hospital trust, says CQC
An inspection of maternity services at a scandal-hit NHS trust has found “more work is needed” – but improvements are being made.
The independent health regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), said in a new report that staffing, staff morale and governance had improved at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust since inspectors highlighted concerns during a visit in April.
After being instructed to make improvements at maternity units in the trust’s two main hospital sites at Shrewsbury and Telford, further visits in November found an improving picture.
However, the CQC inspectors found “serious concerns” in the emergency departments and medical wards at the Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford are under continuing scrutiny, as a separate independent inquiry into Britain’s biggest ever maternity scandal at the trust is reviewing more than 600 cases linked to poor care, going back 40 years.
Last week, Donna Ockenden, who is leading that inquiry, urged any families who believed they had received poor care to come forward.
CQC inspectors went into both hospitals’ maternity units unannounced back in April, and found concerning levels of staff vacancies on the units, and “high” staff sickness rates.
In the report, the inspection concluded: “The service did not have enough staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep people safe from avoidable harm.”
It went on: “Managers did not always provide appropriate oversight, leadership or support to staff on the unit.”
However, seven months on, the CQC said that the trust had taken action, boosting staff numbers, morale and improving governance.
The November visit is part of a wider full inspection, including all the trust’s other services, the results of which are due to be published in the New Year.
It was while carrying out that broader review that the CQC’s team found “a number of serious concerns”, in the trust’s urgent and emergency services and medical wards.
Action is now being taken to deal with those issues, the health regulator said.
Professor Ted Baker, chief inspector of hospitals, said: “At our current inspection we have found that the trust had taken action as a result of our last inspection in April and that this had resulted in a number of improvements.
“We found that in the maternity service staffing had improved, as had morale and governance.
“Patients also told us that staff were kind and compassionate but, more work is needed and we will return to carry out further checks on this service.”
He added: “In contrast to this, inspectors highlighted serious concerns at the emergency departments and medical wards at the Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital during the current inspection.
“As a result, CQC has taken further urgent action at the departments to protect the safety of patients.
“We are monitoring the trust extremely closely and continue to work with NHS England and NHS Improvement with regard to the trust.
“Our monitoring of the trust will include further inspections and we will not hesitate to take further action if needed.”
The trust is currently rated inadequate – the lowest possible rating – overall.
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