Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust issued a warning to improve maternity services

Three maternity services run by the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust require immediate improvement following a recent report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out as part of their national maternity inspection programme.

This programme is designed to give women and their families an up-to-date view of the quality of maternity care at their local hospital trusts, amongst many other objectives.

Inspectors looked at the areas of safe and well-led in the maternity services of St Mary’s Hospital, Wythenshawe Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital. The former two hospitals’ overall maternity rating has changed from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’, with the latter being rated ‘requires improvement’.

The CQC reported delays in proceeding with elective caesarean sections and induction of labour, which should be prioritised to protect mothers and babies at a vulnerable time. The report also raised concerns that there was no effective triage process to keep women safe, resulting in concerns that women were not being assessed quickly enough.

The CQC has, therefore, taken enforcement action and served the Trust with a warning notice to improve.

The Trust has developed an action plan in response and has begun to make improvements.

Read more about this here:

• Improvements needed in maternity services at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust following CQC inspection
• Maternity inspection programme 

Megan Howard, Trainee Solicitor, comments: “The rise of recent maternity issues coming to light within the NHS means that we will probably start to see an influx of findings such as the above. These will have a material impact on how families and babies are treated in the maternity services, and should be dealt with quickly so as to avoid any (further) serious harm/injury occurring to patients.”

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