CQC Report – Basildon Maternity Service – August 2020
The Care Quality Commission has asked us to make improvements to maternity services at Basildon Hospital.
It publishes its report on Wednesday (19 August) following an inspection of the service in June.
While inspectors noted improvements had been made since their last visit, they have asked us to take action in a number of areas.
Chief Executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust – which runs Basildon Hospital – said:
“It is so important that mums feel safe when they come to us to have their babies, and that our staff feel supported to deliver the very best care. These are the two areas we’ve been focusing on and have taken urgent and significant action to address.
“We know that our services are safe to use, but I’m sorry that we didn’t make improvements quickly enough.
“Our dedicated staff had already begun to make changes before the CQC visited us – and the report recognises that a raft of improvements had been put in place.
“We have a new leadership team, invested £1.8million in recruiting 29 more midwives and two additional consultants, opened three more delivery beds for high risk women, and created a triage service.
“We have also over-hauled our processes and training to ensure that we offer women the very best care and support and that we are addressing the issues raised by the inspectors.”
ENDS
Notes to editor
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust was formed from the merger of Mid Essex Hospitals, Southend Hospital and Basildon & Thurrock Hospital on 1 April 2020.