CQC report finds Countess of Chester Hospital maternity services unsafe

A hospital has been ordered to make urgent improvements following a damning inspection during which its maternity unit was found to be unsafe.

Inspectors found the department at Countess of Chester Hospital to have a dangerous lack of suitable equipment and staff numbers, and it also scored the lowest rate nationally for staff morale.

The unannounced inspection which took place in February and March, was prompted following concerns about the quality of care in certain areas.  It covered surgery, medical care, urgent and emergency services and maternity care, as well as leadership.

Inspectors found a number of failings at the maternity unit.  Notably, there were not enough staff members with the right qualifications or skills to keep women and babies safe, or suitable equipment.

The report also said the trust did not learn from compromised safety incidents.

Between April and November 2021, five patients had major haemorrhages after giving birth at the hospital, resulting in unplanned hysterectomies.  Not all of these incidents were reported as serious and action plans were not completed in an acceptable time and one patient’s lifesaving surgery was delayed as there was no hysterectomy kit in that part of the hospital.

Dr Susan Gilby, chief executive of the trust, said work was underway to address “key areas for further improvement”, adding “In our maternity department, we have implemented and are continuing to develop measures to ensure we can consistently provide patients with the safe and effective care they have a right to expect.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record.  The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence.  He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims.  Tony also acts as a Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled.  Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk.  Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win, no fee solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 304 7382