Healthcare watchdog reinspects ‘inadequate’ maternity services

The Queen's Medical Centre
By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter

A reinspection of Nottingham University Hospital’s ‘inadequate’ maternity services has found some progress has been made but also discovered safety concerns.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital on April 25 and 26.

Maternity services at the trust have been rated ‘inadequate’ since 2020.

The maternity units at both hospitals are also being investigated as part of a large-scale review run by experienced midwife Donna Ockenden. This review is expected to conclude in summer 2024.

A report about the CQC’s most recent visit was published ahead of a trust board meeting on May 11.

The trust said feedback from it noted “some improvements” but “areas of concern were also highlighted”.

The trust says there was “action taken to immediately address items including PAT testing of electrical equipment, resuscitation trolley security and medicines management”.

Serbjit Kaur, a non-executive director, said during the meeting: “The improvements have been really amazing in maternity.

“It’s disappointing that the CQC highlighted things that were basic nuts and bolts of safe care.”

The trust’s board report stated: “We received early feedback following the inspection, which noted some improvements, including, observations that care was being delivered with compassion, good feedback had been received from women and progress in relation to staffing levels, CTG training and the Triage service were observed.

“Some areas of concern were also highlighted, and a response was provided to CQC, which outlined action taken to immediately address items including, PAT testing of electrical equipment, resuscitation trolley security and medicines management. We continue to respond pro-actively to further requests for information, during this inspection process.”

The CQC will also return to the trust on June 6 and 7 to inspect how ‘well led’ it is. The trust is currently also rated ‘inadequate’ in this area.

The visit is expected to look at the impact of new Chief Executive Anthony May, who joined the organisation in September 2022.

Mr May said during the meeting: “We had a short notice inspection of maternity services a couple of weeks ago, we don’t yet know the outcome.

“We will await the outcome of maternity and a well-led inspection later this year and of course, we will report that publicly.

“Colleagues on the ground reported that the inspection was a positive experience for them.”

Sharon Wallis, Director of Midwifery, said it was a “positive visit”.

She said: “There was positive feedback about some improvements around staffing, visibility of management and CTG training.

“They were really seeing compassionate care across the board which is fantastic.

“There were areas of concern highlighted and we did action those very quickly. It was things around PAT testing, the security of the resuscitation trolleys and medicine management concern. We continue to address any of those issues.”