Scandal-hit maternity trust sets out action plan

East Kent Hospitals Trust is rolling out an action plan after a watchdog found maternity services were still unsafe following a damning report into care last autumn.

The trust will take measures after the Care Quality Commission raised concerns last month and are also writing to all residents in east Kent following last October’s independent review found dozens of babies died unnecessarily.

The review concluded that at least 45 babies might have survived had they received better care at the trust.

A serious incident in July identified maternity risks, including women not being seen within 15 minutes of arrival due to staffing issues, and women not being reviewed by the doctor in the appropriate time due to lack of dedicated obstetric medical cover.

Sarah Shingler, chief nursing and midwifery officer at the trust, said the CQC recognised some improvements but also identified areas of concern.

She said “We have taken immediate action to address these to ensure we are delivering the high-quality care we and our patients expect.

“This includes employing a dedicated fetal heart monitoring midwife, adding an automated electronic alert for staff when a fetal heart monitoring check is due, increased doctor cover of triage at William Harvey Hospital, changed to fire routes and strengthening processes around regular cleanliness checks.”

She added that the trust continued to work hard to improve services, including its work “to listen and act on feedback from those using our care”.

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