According to the regulator for NHS England, issues with the level of care in hospitals are becoming more common. In recent years, there have been scandals when it comes to maternity care failings, and the regulator has warned that this could become more widespread.
Investigations into maternity units at Shrewsbury and Telford, as well as East Kent, revealed that poor care likely contributed to baby deaths or severe injuries.
However, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has warned that these failings are not isolated and are appearing in other hospitals as well.
In its review of 131 maternity units across the NHS, the CQC identified critical issues related to staffing shortages, inadequate facilities and equipment, and poor safety management, warning that preventable harm risks becoming “normalised.”
The CQC’s 16-month investigation focused on maternity units that had not been inspected or rated since March 2021, covering about two-thirds of all units, mostly those deemed less concerning in the past. While the review did find some examples of good practice, it also highlighted several alarming problems, such as:
- Severe staffing shortages, with inexperienced nurses handling tasks meant for senior midwives and doctors.
- Faulty equipment, such as non-functioning call bells and inadequate pain management.
- Delays in emergency Caesareans due to unavailable operating theatres.
- Substandard facilities, including limited access to toilets and showers, and patients left on blood-stained sheets.
- Overcrowded, noisy, and overheated wards.
- Poor handling of safety incidents, with major emergencies like substantial blood loss being under-reported.
- Toxic work environments marked by poor leadership, blame cultures, and low staff morale.
- Triage delays, leading to women being improperly assessed and prioritised.
- Discrimination against ethnic minority patients, including inadequate support for non-English speakers.
- Overall, 48% of maternity units were rated as inadequate or needing improvement, with about a quarter receiving lower ratings than during previous inspections. When it came to safety, a staggering 65% of units were deemed to be failing.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the findings “a national disgrace,” adding that women deserve better and that childbirth should not be a source of fear or trauma. He also stated that the government will collaborate with struggling NHS trusts to drive rapid improvements
