Many of the maternity failings at scandal-hit hospitals are being seen elsewhere, England’s NHS regulator says. Investigations into units in Shrewsbury and Telford and East Kent found poor care may have contributed to babies dying or having life-changing injuries. But the Care Quality Commission said many of the problems were more widespread.
Its review of 131 units across the NHS highlighted issues with staffing, buildings, equipment and the way safety was managed, warning preventable harm was at risk of becoming “normalised”. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “These findings are cause for national shame. "Women deserve better - childbirth should not be something they fear or look back on with trauma.
” And the government would be working with struggling trusts to make rapid improvements. The CQC's 16-month investigation targeted maternity units not inspected and rated since March 2021 – about two-thirds of the total and mostly those it had been least worried about. Its review found examples of good practice but expressed concern about: Overall, 48% were rated as inadequate or requiring improvement with around a quarter receiving a lower overall rating than when last inspected.
On the single issue of safety, 65% were judged to be failing. Details have also emerged about the findings of a separate investigation into two of those units that were judged as inadequate - the Royal Derby Hospital and Queen's Hospital, which are run by University Hospitals of Derby an.