CQC slams 'deterioration in care for women and their babies'

MATERNITY SERVICE CRITICISED BY WATCHDOG AS SAFETY LEVELS FOUND TO BE 'INADEQUATE'

- HELENA VESTY

MATERNITY care at three Manchester hospitals was 'inadequate' and inspectors issued a warning notice telling bosses to make urgent improvements to protect people and babies from coming to harm'

Regulators found the standard of care had 'deteriorated! On a visit in March they were especially concerned that initial assessments known as triaging - took too long, meaning 'opportunities to prevent or minimise harm were missed.

Delays and cancellations to planned Caesareans or surgical births, and inductions of labour which kickstart childbirth increased the risk of mothers and babies coming to harm, said the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspections of the maternity units at Saint Mary's Hospital, Wythensawe Hospital and North Manchester General found there were not enough midwives and doctors and not the right mix of senior and junior staff to cope with demand.

The watchdog said today the services have 'started to make improvements' which are being 'monitored closely! Hospital chiefs say they were 'disappointed' with the findings, 'took immediate action on the feedback and embarked on a focused programme of improvements.

Bosses say changes include 'reducing waiting times in triage [where a patient has an initial assessment], investing in staff to increase the number of operating lists available, providing additional staff in key areas of the service, increasing numbers of senior doctors available during peak times, and launching a wide-reaching campaign to recruit more midwives!

Saint Mary's Hospital provides three maternity units across Greater Manchester including its namesake hospital on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre, as well as Saint Mary's Hospital units at Wythenshawe Hospital and at North Manchester General Hospital. The Saint Mary's services have been under scrutiny by the health watchdog, the CQC.