The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn (QEH) has received external endorsement and evidence of its ongoing improvement journey with the news that Regulators have recognised substantial improvements in the hospital’s Maternity Services, which is great news for women, babies and their families in the Trust’s care.
In July 2018, the CQC imposed ten Conditions on the hospital’s licence to operate as a Maternity Services provider under what is known as a Section 31 procedure following an inspection of the QEH.
The CQC asked the Trust to make improvements in a number of areas, including maternity assessments, out of hours cover and the availability of consultant obstetricians. The Trust has taken the necessary action by strengthening senior leadership in the service, ensuring patients receive ongoing risk assessments for the duration of their pregnancies, putting robust on-call rotas in place and ensuring there is a nominated Consultant Obstetrician of the day with oversight of the hospital’s Delivery Suite.
Following these substantial improvements, which have been embedded, the hospital applied towards the end of 2020 to have five of the Conditions lifted. Further to an extensive review of the services by the CQC, including an unannounced inspection in Autumn 2020, all five of the Conditions applied for have now been lifted.
The Trust remains absolutely focused on ensuring the improvements are sustained so that it can apply to have three further conditions lifted when the CQC makes its next full inspection, which is expected this Spring.
Caroline Shaw CBE, Chief Executive at QEH, commented: “This is fantastic news and is a reflection of all the hard work and dedication of our maternity staff who have gone the extra mile to ensure that our patients and their families receive the best possible care at QEH. This external endorsement and recognition of progress from the CQC is another important milestone and step forward in our journey of improvement.”
Kate Jackman, General Manager, Women and Children’s Division at QEH said: “This is excellent news for our Maternity Service. I would like to thank all staff for their involvement in achieving these improvements. I am very proud of the Division and the care we give to our patients and their families and I am looking forward to further developing our service in 2021.”
–ENDS–
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