How we are taking action to improve maternity services - August 2023 | Latest news

In September 2022, Donna Ockenden began her independent review of maternity services at our hospitals.

As part of the review process, Donna and her team share key findings with us and NHS England on a regular basis. This feedback supports the continuous learning and improvement of maternity care at NUH and is included into our existing Maternity Improvement Programme.

At the most recent meeting held on 21 June 2023, Donna and her team met with Chief Executive Anthony May, Chief Nurse Michelle Rhodes and Medical Director Dr Keith Girling where she provided feedback from meetings that she is continuing to hold with mothers and families taking part in the review.

We are committed to sharing that feedback in an open and transparent way as we continue to learn and improve.

In the meeting, Donna fed back about the positive experience of one mother who explained how one of our midwives had ‘turned her life around’ using her knowledge and support to advocate for the mother through some very complex circumstances.

We were also able to present Donna and the Review team with an update from our Inclusivity Maternity Taskforce which has been set up in response previous feedback around how we engage with black and ethnic minority services users and is working to improve our services in this area.

Donna also fed back on areas that we need to continue improving:

• Our interpretation and translation services were described as ‘hit and miss’ and we need to do more to help women who do not speak English as a first language
• We should be planning for extra provision for blood testing during Ramadan so that we are not having to ask women to break their fast during this period
• We need to better work with women who contact our services and believe they are in labour
• Women are providing the review team with repeated examples of ‘manual removal of placentas’ being undertaken without appropriate anaesthesia in a labour ward room rather than in a theatre
• Challenges made about the use of genetic testing as a first line of enquiry following a baby being born in unexpectedly poor condition, feedback which we will audit and review
• Parents have reported being informed that their notes have been lost, although we have bene able to provide them to the review team.

Donna followed up in writing with a letter addressed to Chief Executive Anthony May on 8 August. You can read the letter here - 08.08.23 DO letter to Anthony May.pdf [pdf] 547KB

Michelle Rhodes, Chief Nurse, said: “We are grateful for the continued and regular feedback on our services from Donna Ockenden.  The format of the meetings enables us to act swiftly on the information we are given to improve services for our women and families rather than waiting for the publication of the review to act. 

“We know that more work needs to be done in a number of areas and we are taking forward the most recent feedback from Donna alongside the continuing Maternity Improvement Programme.

“Our teams are absolutely committed to improving services, and we are proud that the work of the taskforce was recognised for making progress in a number of areas with black and minority ethnic groups, as well as the important work midwives are leading with the homeless and asylum seekers.  It is also gratifying and humbling to hear the individual testimony of the difference one of our midwives made with a mother, which is the level of care that we all should aspire to.

“Women and families can be assured that the feedback and learning that is shared with us throughout the review is used to make improvements to our maternity services immediately.”

Further information about the review can be found here.

 

Scope of the Independent Review

Since the most recent meeting with Donna Ockenden it has been agreed that the terms of reference for the Independent Maternity Review are changing to an ‘opt out’ basis for women and families identified as being within scope rather than the previous ‘opt in’ arrangement. This means that women and families will automatically be included in the review unless they contact the review team to say no; previously it was the other way around.

As the subject of the review, this was not our decision to make, but one that NHS England as the commissioners have taken. This will mean that more people will take part in the Review, and may change the timescales involved.

We know how important this review is for the families, our staff and all our communities and we will continue to work with NHS England and the independent review team to ensure that everyone who wants to can share their experiences and have their say.”