Medical Negligence Lawyers Demand Transparent Action Over Leeds’ Maternity Service After Hospital Trust Told To Make Immediate Improvements

Hospital bosses have been told to “make immediate improvements” to Leeds’ maternity services following inspections by the health watchdog. 

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today published findings of unannounced visits examining maternity and neonatal services at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’ Hospital, run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 

Leeds' maternity services 'inadequate' and neonatal care 'requires improvement'

Maternity services at both hospitals have declined from good to inadequate overall, inspectors found. Safety at St James’ was also classed as inadequate – the lowest rating. 

Neonatal services at both hospitals have been rated as requires improvement, overall.

The inspections followed concerns from whistle blowers and patients, including those being supported by expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, about the quality of care being delivered.

The visit prompted the CQC to issue a formal warning notice to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, demanding urgent improvements to ensure patient safety.

Katie Warner is an expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office, representing families affected by maternity care failings in the city.

Expert Opinion

“These findings are pretty conclusive and will understandably cause significant anxiety for families

“Our clients have long held concerns that previous CQC inspection ratings didn’t accurately reflect the care on the ground families received, and things were worse than thought. Now that both services have been downgraded overall, means our clients are now starting to feel listened to. However, the new ratings also raise serious questions about the standard of care being provided to families.

“The warning notice issued by the CQC underlines the urgent need for the Trust to take decisive and transparent action. We support the CQC’s call for immediate improvements and a clear action plan from the Trust.

“Behind each client we represent is a human story of how families have been devastated by maternity issues – whether that be the loss of a baby, their child suffering life-long disabilities or mums being seriously injured.

“While it’s sadly too late for our clients, we urge the Trust to act on the CQC's recommendations as soon as possible to prevent other families from potentially suffering similar heartbreak at what should be one of the most joyful times in their lives.

“Families deserve to have confidence in the maternity and neonatal services they are accessing, and want to know that everything is being done to restore the services to a higher level." Katie Warner

Leeds maternity and neonatal services: what the CQC found

The CQC visited the Hospital Trust in December and January. 

In maternity services, inspectors found that lessons were not being learned from previous incidents, and that the environment was not always safe or clean. Staff reported feeling unsupported and reluctant to raise concerns due to a perceived blame culture within the Trust.

In neonatal services management hadn’t ensured there were always enough staff with the right qualifications and skills to meet the needs of babies.

The environment wasn’t always safe. Equipment wasn’t always safely secured which could result in someone coming to harm. Medicines were not always stored correctly, and some were out of date.

Maternity services at both hospitals have declined from good to inadequate overall, as well as for being safe and well-led. 

The overall rating for Leeds General Infirmary has declined from good to requires improvement and St James’s University Hospital remains rated as requires improvement.

The overall rating for the wider Hospital Trust remains rated as good by the CQC.

Ann Ford, CQC’s director of operations in the north, said during the course of inspections concerns previously raised by whistleblowers and families “were substantiated”. These had “posed a significant risk” to safety of women and babies.