Government Committee Maternity Services Assessment Report
The government's Health and Social Care Committee has published its report into the quality of maternity services in England.
The inquiry at the heart of this report was initiated following a number of revelations of poor-quality maternity services in various NHS Trusts across England, including Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury and Telford, and East Kent. Investigations into these services had revealed significant concerns regarding the safety of both mothers and babies.
The report was at pains to reassure people that the vast majority of maternity services in England are safe and 'at its best, NHS care offers some of the safest maternal and neonatal outcomes in the world'. It further emphasised that the number of neonatal deaths and stillbirths had been reducing over the last ten years.
'Require improvement'
However, the inquiry found that there are still inconsistencies and varying levels of care across the country and the Chief Inspector of Hospitals at CQC, Professor Ted Baker is quoted as saying that 'we still had not learned all the lessons'. The report notes that 38% of CQC ratings for maternity services are that they require improvement for safety.
Staffing levels and patient safety
A specific issue addressed is one of safe staffing levels which was perceived to be of concern in many maternity services. The report recommends 'as a matter of urgency, that the Government commits to funding the maternity workforce at the level required to deliver safe care to all mothers and their babies.'
A second issue is one of maternity services failing to learn from patient safety incidents, leading to increasing costs for clinical negligence claims. The report recommends that the government establishes 'a less adversarial process which instead promotes learning.'
Furthermore, the report stresses the importance of ensuring that pregnant women are fully informed of the risks of the birthing options available to them and that 'personalised care goes hand in hand with safety.' It specifically states the importance of ensuring that 'no woman faces pressure to have an unassisted vaginal birth'.
Legal advice
Poor-quality medical care during childbirth can lead to permanent and debilitating injury. Furthermore, it can cause significant financial losses at a time when the costs of care may be increasing.
If you or a loved one are struggling with the long-term impact of negligent medical care during childbirth, contact Glynns Solicitors to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
It may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
Make An Enquiry
Why Choose Us
- Specialist medical negligence solicitors
- Free initial enquiries
- No win, no fee available
Reviews
Our Expertise
Helping Clients Across England & Wales
