Two maternity services provided by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust rated as 'good'

Health inspectors say they will "continue to monitor the services", after some support for women giving birth in Cornwall was rated as 'needing improvement'. 

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the St Austell Hospital overall - including its Penrice Birthing Unit - and Royal Cornwall Hospital need to make changes.

Concerns included needing better access to 'adult resuscitation equipment' and more staff training in 'baby abduction' prevention. 

A report found while staff at Penrice Birthing Unit completed people’s medicines records accurately, 'they didn’t always manage and store medicines safely'.

The CQC carried out checks at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Penrice Birthing Unit and Helston Birth Centre back in December.

Overall two out of three maternity services run by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust have been rated as 'good' following inspections - with one still 'requiring improvement'.

The overall rating for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is unchanged by this inspection, which remains requires improvement overall.

Cath Campbell, CQC deputy director of operations in the south, said: “Women and babies generally received good care in the maternity services we inspected at the trust, and leaders had the skills and abilities to help staff meet people’s needs.

“We saw staff managing challenges well and working to continually improve services for people using them. This included engaging well with women and birthing people to plan and manage their care. The services also had maternity safety champions, who listened to people’s views to support improvement and learning.

“It was encouraging that across all the services we inspected, leaders had the skills and abilities to meet people’s needs, and they supported and encouraged staff to develop their skills and take on more senior roles. This supported the future care the service will be able to provide to people.

“However, there are areas that need improvement – particularly at Penrice Birthing Unit where access to adult resuscitation equipment must improve, as well as ensuring all staff practice the trust’s baby abduction policy.

“Also, while staff at Penrice Birthing Unit completed people’s medicines records accurately, they didn’t always manage and store medicines safely.

“We will continue to monitor the services, so the trust can build on where it’s providing good care, and make improvements where they’re needed.”

The ratings, as issued by the Care Quality Commission

• Royal Cornwall Hospital - maternity service GOOD
• Royal Cornwall Hospital - overall rating REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT
• Helston Birth Centre (first inspection) - maternity service GOOD
• Penrice Birthing Unit at St Austell Hospital - maternity service REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT
• St Austell Hospital - overall rating REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

What the CQC inspectors found

In all three services, inspectors found:

• Leaders had the skills and abilities to run the services.
• Staff and leaders were clear about their roles and accountabilities
• All staff were committed to continual learning and improving services.
• Staff had a good understanding of improvement methods, and the skills to use them
• The trust engaged with Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) – an NHS group of women, families, providers and doctors who collaborate to improve maternity care
• The trust is part of a regional rollout of innovative practices for premature births, which has led to the trust performing in the top 5% of services nationally for the outcomes of premature babies
• The trust also encouraged innovation and participation in research
• However, the CQC also found services should ensure staff complete regular birth pool evacuation training and baby abduction drills.

At Royal Cornwall Hospital:

• Good training had been developed to help staff care for vulnerable families.
• Outcomes for women and babies met national standards.
• A maternity dashboard monitored performance and risk to review issues and ensure the trust’s board had good oversight.
• However, the maternity building was ageing, and the environment was becoming too small for the number of babies born there.

At Penrice Birthing Unit:

• The culture between community and hospital-based midwifery staff was improving.
• Women’s notes were comprehensive, and all staff could access them easily.
• Maternity leaders were working with the local council to restart the peer-support breastfeeding service that was available pre-pandemic.
• However, the service must complete daily checks and further risk assess the level of emergency equipment available at the centre.

At Helston Birth Centre:

• Staff felt respected, supported and valued by leaders. They were focused on the needs of people receiving care.
• People’s notes were complete, and all staff knew how to access them.
• However, the service should ensure daily equipment checks are completed and accurate, including expiry dates and that trolleys, contain necessary stocks of equipment.

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• royal cornwall hospitals nhs trust