Agenda item

To receive an update from the Trust on Maternity Services at Blackpool Victoria Hospital following the recent Care Quality Commission inspection.

Mr Michael Chew, Divisional Director of Operations, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust introduced the report which focussed on the findings of the Ockenden report and the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Maternity Services at the Trust. He noted that there had also been a number of enquiries nationally into Maternity Services such as Shrewsbury and Telford from which there were lessons to be learned.

The Committee was informed that the Trust provided evidence of compliance with safety standards on a regular basis and had been part of the maternity incentive scheme meeting those standards for three years. It was explained therefore that a level of confidence could be assumed notwithstanding the CQC inspection outcome. Mr Chew advised that the Trust regularly reviewed the outcomes of patients in a number of areas such as Caesarean Sections, smoking and breastfeeding and that positive feedback was regularly received through the friends and family survey. He added that there were challenges with regards to recruitment and that the Trust was short by 20 midwives and that the level of health inequality and deprivation in Blackpool also provided additional challenge.

It was noted that the CQC visit had been carried out earlier in the year with the report published recently. Since the inspection, the Trust had received early communication from the CQC on the issues in need of addressing and had already acted upon those concerns, providing evidence to the CQC of the action taken. At the time of the inspection a Section 31 notice had been issued to the Trust which had already been removed based on the immediate action taken.

Ms Lisa Fitzgerald, Deputy Head of Midwifery, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provided additional information in regards to the outcomes of the inspection and highlighted the five key areas requiring action to address as staffing, medicine management, operation of medical devices, infection control and incident management. She advised that a comprehensive action plan had been developed, with a large number of actions already completed and highlighted that a number of concerns raised by the CQC had been due to poor record keeping rather than action not taken and that this was something that had been addressed immediately. She also summarised the 15 essential actions arising from the Ockenden report and how these had been put into practice at the Trust.

The Committee discussed the inspection outcome in detail and noted their significant concerns in relation to cleanliness, infection control and hygiene. In response, Ms Fitzgerald advised that although accepting that some areas of improvement had been required, a number of the key issues related to the record keeping of cleaning and action undertaken rather than it not happening. She advised that a bespoke plan had been introduced for specific rooms and theatres and that procedures had been tightened to ensure the documenting of evidence. Issues raised such as the soft furnishings in the bereavement suite had been acted upon and addressed within 24 hours of the inspection.

In response to a question relating to breastfeeding, Ms Fitzgerald advised that the pandemic had prevented many non-essential face to face interactions and that services were still slowly resuming. She added that the Trust recognised the benefits in breastfeeding and was hoping to increase the levels of peer support on offer.

Members went on to consider staffing and recruitment and it was noted that a number of experienced staff had retired recently. Ms Fitzgerald advised that the Trust was part of a wider group seeking midwives from other countries and the first international recruits were expected at the Trust by Christmas. She advised that there was a long term plan in place which aimed to increase the number of staff year on year.

Councillor Jo Farrell, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Community Health raised concerns regarding the workforce and the support that they were receiving. In response, Ms Fitzgerald advised that she spoke to the midwives regularly and heard their concerns, sharing their feelings and that the Trust was striving every day to support them and increase resources in order to make a meaningful change to their experience. The Committee noted the importance of a happy workforce on the experiences of patients and their safety.

Mr Pete Murphy, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery, AHP and Quality, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust concluded the Trust’s report, advising that there was a national midwife shortage which had impacted on the workforce at the Trust and that he was proud of the service provided by dedicated members of staff. He added that the end point outcomes for patients were positive and compared favourably with other similar Trusts and that outcomes were monitored on a regular basis.

The Committee requested that the Trust return to present on progress and improvements in approximately four months and that as part of this the action plan be presented.