The Care Quality Commission has published its full report following an inspection of James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s maternity services in January 2023.
The CQC inspects services provided by healthcare providers against five domains - safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Having conducted its inspection, the CQC rates services as either outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.
Our Maternity Service was inspected against two of the five domains - safe and well-led - and was rated as ‘inadequate’ in both. Because of this, the overall rating for the James Paget’s Maternity Service has fallen from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate.’
The Trust has anticipated this outcome, having received a Regulation Section 29A warning notice from the CQC regarding immediate concerns about maternity services in February.
The full report outlines concerns regarding the staffing and training levels within the Trust’s maternity services, the relationship between midwifery and obstetric staff, and reporting and governance arrangements within the service.
Jo Segasby, Chief Executive at James Paget Hospital, said: “On behalf of our Trust, I want to apologise to our patients and communities that the James Paget’s maternity services have fallen below the standards that the CQC and local people expect.”
“Our hospital fully accepts the CQC report and the clear actions that need to be taken to improve maternity services. We are committed to making these changes, to improve the quality of care we provide for our patients.”
“This includes investing in and recruiting additional medical and midwifery staff to support the care received by those giving birth, and their families, as well as staff to improve effective safety reporting and monitoring arrangements.”
“I want to emphasise that our maternity services continue to provide compassionate care to people giving birth and their babies, and we are working together as a hospital to plan and make improvements.”
Stephen Javes, Interim Chair at James Paget Hospital, said: “Our Trust works closely with Birth Voices East, our local Maternity Voices Partnership, to put people with experiences of maternity care at the centre of how our services are developed, and we are encouraged to see this recognised in the CQC’s report.”
“The report also highlights the engagement with staff and the support they receive in their roles that was already underway when the inspection occurred. Our maternity services are working hard to evolve the culture of leadership and responding to concerns when they arise, and the CQC’s assessment shows where we need to apply further focus.”
Alongside the concerns raised by the CQC inspection, the report also recognised the work of the Eden Team within the Trust’s maternity service, a team of three midwives who provide care to women with complex social needs and/or mental health issues, and high interest in clinical research within the service.
To deliver changes and rapid improvement to its services, the James Paget has developed a comprehensive Maternity Improvement Plan. This incorporates required actions with the CQC report, as well as the work to implement the recommendations of the Independent Maternity Review (known as the Ockenden review) from 2022.
The James Paget continues to work closely with the CQC, NHS England and its partners within Norfolk and Waveney’s Integrated Care System to improve the delivery and quality of maternity services. More information about the hospital’s Maternity Improvement Plan is available here: https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/departments-services/departments-services-a-z/maternity-services/maternity-improvement-plan/
If you are aware of anyone who has any questions or concerns regarding our maternity and midwifery services, please direct them to the Trust’s PALS service for further support – contact 01493 453240 or email PALS@jpaget.nhs.uk
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