Serious concerns raised over safety of maternity services at Essex hospitals

The healthcare watchdog has raised serious concerns over safety at two Essex hospitals' maternity services. A new report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has graded maternity care at Basildon and Southend hospitals as 'requires improvement'.

The CQC said they were concerned by hospital staffing levels, which could impact the safety of women, people using the services, and their babies. A top nursing chief at the hospitals said the rating is "not where we want to be."

It comes after an inspection of the services last March. The hospitals' overall rating remains unchanged. Maternity services were rated as requiring improvement for being safe, effective, and well-led.

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The CQC inspectors noted that there was not always enough fetal monitoring equipment for those using maternity services and that some equipment had not been tested adequately. At Southend, staff reported a lack of hot water in some areas and outdated policies.

Hazel Roberts, CQC deputy director of operations in the East of England, said: "This meant people’s needs couldn’t always be identified and met as quickly as possible, putting them at risk. Leaders were aware of these issues and had plans in place to address them."

They added: "Our inspectors saw several positive interactions where staff took the time to make sure people’s needs were met in line with their preferences, and they were responded to quickly when people were in pain or distress.

"We shared our findings with the trust so they know where improvements had to be made and where there is good practice to build on. We will continue to monitor these services closely, including through further inspections, to make sure these improvements are made and people are kept safe."

James McMurdock (Reform UK), the South Basildon and East Thurrock MP where Basildon Hospital resides, said: "Every family deserves to feel safe and supported during one of the most significant moments of their lives, and improvements are urgently needed to ensure that standard of care is met." David Burton-Sampson, the Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, was approached for comment.

Diane Sarkar, Chief Nursing and Quality Officer for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are committed to providing high-quality, safe maternity care. However, this rating is not where we want to be, and we are working hard to improve.

"We made changes as soon as the inspection feedback was provided in March 2024. There have been several improvements to the quality of the maternity service since this inspection.

"Whilst we recognise there is still more to do, we are confident these changes have already improved maternity services and patient experience."

'Staff not confident that concerns were always listened to' - report

The CQC report said staff at Basildon Hospital were able to discuss how incidents are reported and how these were reviewed and fed back to staff. They detailed knowing how to raise concerns but "were not confident that their concerns were always listened to". On one occasion, a staff member emailed a senior leader twice but did not receive a reply or acknowledgement.

"The concerns raised around staffing levels, equipment availability and the ability of staff to raise issues without fear of being ignored are unacceptable," Mr McMurdock added. "I know first-hand how hard our health workers work and I recognise that their dedication must be matched by the resources, support and leadership they need to deliver high-quality care."

The report says leaders were aware of the need to engage all staff to ensure there was a proactive culture of safety. The hospital were exploring additional methods to share this, such as the introduction of podcasts for staff.

The midwifery staffing level at Basildon Hospital has improved, with the vacancy rate at its lowest level in three years. Service leads ensure staff complete their training, and more midwifery support has been brought in to address delays in the birth reflections clinic, and audits are now consistently completed.

The CQC was told by families using maternity services at both hospitals that staff treated them with kindness, listened to them, and respected their privacy and dignity at all times. There was evidence that both maternity units were working with stakeholders to improve the quality of care for those who can experience barriers, such as people from ethnic-minority groups.

At Southend Hospital, a dedicated midwife who answers the triage phone seven days a week, eight hours a day, has been introduced. Outside these hours, calls are diverted to the ante-natal ward to ensure that qualified midwifery staff are available to help.

Fetal monitoring equipment is now regularly checked and available in the triage ward. Posters highlighting the system used for people attending the triage area are in waiting areas and issues with hot water were resolved in April 2024 with no further problems with providing water births or showers.