Government taking warning on maternity services “seriously”
The health of new mothers and babies is being put at risk by poor conditions on maternity wards, a health watchdog has said.
A Healthcare Commission investigation found a lack of staff and equipment was making giving birth more dangerous than it should be.
In a report to be submitted to MPs, the commission said bad management rather than a lack of funding was to blame for the inadequate environment in some maternity units.
The commission study found deficient organisation on wards, a shortage of midwives, dirty toilets and a lack of communication between doctors and patients.
The probe looked at conditions at three maternity units that have suffered high mortality rates over the last two years.
Maternity services at Northwick Park, in north London, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, and the Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Trust, Surrey were examined.
Commission chairman, Sir Ian Kennedy is now urging NHS trusts to review the operation of their maternity facilities.
“Our work has shown that there is too much poor practice that needs to be rooted out,” he said.
“This is an area where the consequences of things going wrong are very great and there is growing evidence that in some places maternity services are not as good or safe as they should be.”
Responding to the commission’s findings, the Government acknowledged that the report raised some “extremely important issues.”
“Sir Ian Kennedy raises some extremely important issues, which we are taking seriously,” said Health Minister, Liam Byrne.
“This week we are bringing together the best brains in maternity to launch our action plan for world class maternity services,” he added.
