Maternity services rated inadequate at two Bedfordshire hospitals

A trust’s maternity services have again been found to be inadequate following unannounced inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The health watchdog carried out inspections in June and July last year at Bedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable (L&D) Hospital.

It found that only minimal improvements had been made, with services remaining in breach of regulations on staffing and safe care and treatment.

In a statement, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both hospitals, said it was sorry that “our service has failed” and was now making improvements.

Chief executive David Carter said that “since last summer’s inspection we have strengthened high-level staffing and clinical supervision, expanded staff development and wellbeing support”.

The inspections were carried out last summer by the CQC following improvements it had been asked to make.

In September last year, further follow-up inspections were carried out, but maternity services at both hospitals were once again rated as overall inadequate.

Carolyn Jenkinson, deputy director of hospitals in the East of England at the CQC, said: “We were deeply concerned that improvements to maternity services were happening too slowly, with little change since our previous inspection.”

She said “the triage service was often understaffed” and that in Bedford around a quarter of calls were left unanswered or abandoned by the caller due to waiting times.

At Luton and Dunstable Hospital, women experienced delays in elective caesarean sections, as well as in inducing labour.

Jenkinson added: “We have also seen frequent diversions to other hospitals due to staff shortages, which can lead to distress for women who had made specific plans at their hospital of choice. »

Inspectors found that at both hospitals the department had many outdated policies and clinical guidelines, including those dealing with baby abduction and sepsis management.

Carter said that since last summer’s inspection the trust had “opened state-of-the-art maternity units in our new acute block at the L&D”.

In Bedford, he said: “We have introduced a dedicated telephone triage midwife, a new ‘mini switchboard’ telephone triage service and a private triage area to improve access, privacy and dignity.