Due to concerns about patient safety, the CQC report stipulates the mandatory steps that the trust must take to improve their services.
The inspection revealed, amongst numerous other issues, errors in risk management, and a failure to ensure that staff were adequately trained. There was no clear system to prioritise women according to clinical need.
In addition, the inspection also advised that there were delays in women being reviewed by medical staff and delays in emergency caesarean sections. The findings mean that the CQC cannot be assured that the trust is able to keep women and babies safe from avoidable harm and to provide the right care and treatment.
In response, the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust have said that they have improved their services, including increasing staffing levels, and expanding the Pregnancy Assessment Emergency Room. They also advised they will take on board the feedback from the report to improve the services further.
Sharon Banga, medical negligence specialist Solicitor, based in the Shoosmiths’ Birmingham office said: ”These findings are particularly concerning given my experience of the trust with former and present clients who have suffered birth injuries.
“In one case, a failure to be expedite a C-section lead to our client suffering rupture of her uterus and her baby suffering a brain injury. The child now has Cerebral Palsy. More needs to be done by the trust to protect patients such as this by actual implementation of the recommendations made’.”
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This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2024
