Health watchdog downgrades Leicester maternity hospitals to ‘inadequate’

The safety of two maternity care sites run by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has been rated as ‘inadequate’ following a ‘deterioration in the level of care’.

The Care Quality Commission downgraded its rating of this aspect of maternity care provided at Leicester General Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary following inspections earlier this year.

In a report, the CQC said staff told inspectors that they were being ‘pushed to the brink’ due to low staffing levels, which risked the safety of mothers and babies.

The trust said it took the findings of the report ‘incredibly seriously’ and was already making improvements.

Deputy director of secondary and specialist care at the CQC, Carolyn Jenkinson, said “When we inspected maternity services at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, we observed a deterioration in the level of care being provided to women, people using the service and their babies.

“The leadership team has recently restructured with many new posts still needing to be embedded.

“Leaders should continue to focus on improving their oversight of risks and managing performance so people can receive a better and safer standard of care.”

Chief nurse at the trust, Julie Hogg, said in a statement following the inspection “Improving maternity services is a key priority and many of the highlighted challenges had already been identified before the inspection with plans in place to tackle them.

“However, we take the report and its findings incredibly seriously and are using them to drive further improvements for women and birthing people.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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