Maternity services in Maidstone rated inadequate
A maternity service run by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been rated inadequate
The Care Quality Commission has released a report today (16 February) revealing a maternity service run by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been rated inadequate.
The maternity services at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital received the lowest rating in the report.
The trust's Maidstone Birthing Centre and Crowborough Birthing Centre were rated as "requires improvement".
At Maidstone Birthing Centre, inspectors found poor record keeping, poor governance systems and a lack of auditing.
At Crowborough Birthing Centre, inspectors found midwifery staffing levels were unsafe and it put mothers and babies at risk of harm.
Staff also did not always complete mandatory training and records, including risk assessments, inspectors found.
In response to the report, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust have said they accept the findings and providing the highest levels of maternity care remains their top priority.
The statement says:
"Following the inspection last year, the CQC made a number of recommendations which focused on governance, processes and documentation in the Trust’s maternity units.
"We have taken steps to address all of these recommendations, the majority of which are now completed".
These include:
- undertaking a multidisciplinary workforce review
- the implementation of new guidelines on induction of labour
- additional training and new guidelines on the management of PPH
- streamlining of the emergency theatre pathway
- improving use of the data we capture and report on.
Trust Chief Executive, Miles Scott, said:
“MTW has a reputation for continually developing and improving care.
"I want to reassure people using our maternity services that we are addressing all of the issues raised by the CQC and have already implemented the majority of their recommendations.
“This work has the highest priority in our organisation and I am proud of the hard-working maternity teams who are dedicated to providing the best possible care at what is such an important time in people’s lives".
CQC's deputy director of secondary and specialist care Carolyn Jenkinson said trust staff were doing their best to provide safe care "despite ineffective systems and poor leadership".
If further improvements were not implemented, Ms Jenkinson said the CQC would not hesitate to take further action.