The findings of the latest Care Quality Commission inspection of Worthing Hospital’s maternity services are deeply concerning. Following an inspection in April, the service has been downgraded from “good” to “requires improvement”, with concerns about patient safety and the management of the department.
As a member of West Sussex County Council’s Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee, I want to see clear action to address those findings and transparent reporting on progress.
First, I want to recognise the dedication of the midwives, doctors and other maternity staff at Worthing Hospital. Inspectors saw staff treating women with kindness and respect, and feedback from families was consistently positive. Staff are working under significant pressure, with increasing demand and more complex care needs. They deserve our thanks and support.
Inspectors also recognised improvements in clinical outcomes for babies, with neonatal mortality rates below the national average.
But there are serious concerns that hospital leaders must address. Inspectors identified incomplete patient observations, delays in responding when women’s conditions deteriorated, problems with medicines management and outdated guidance on bleeding after childbirth. They also found that the service was not tracking how long women waited for their labour to be induced.
These are fundamental aspects of safe maternity care. Women and families need confidence that checks are being completed, warning signs are acted on promptly and staff have up-to-date guidance.
It is particularly troubling that inspectors found progress on previously identified concerns had been slow. Families deserve to know what has changed and how those changes are making care safer.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has accepted the findings. It says action since the inspection includes securing funding to strengthen staffing, recruiting specialist roles and enhancing pharmacy, perinatal mental health and bereavement support.
Those steps are welcome. We now need clear assurances about what has already been put right, what remains outstanding and when the remaining improvements will be completed. There should be clear responsibilities, firm timescales and evidence that the changes are working.
Through my role on the county’s health scrutiny committee, I want to see transparent reporting on that progress. The experiences of women and families must help shape the response, and staff must be supported to raise concerns and improve care.
Supporting our NHS means supporting its staff and expecting its leadership to address failings. Every family deserves safe, compassionate maternity care, and staff need the resources and leadership to provide it.
Leave a Reply