Maternity Services
Ombudsman's claims on care quality complaint 'did not stand up '
An apparent failure to fully investigate a high profile complaint has led to a renewed call for changes to the system.
Burstow attacks move to close his local A&E
A panel appointed to look at the options for downgrading a hospital in south west London has recommended closing health minister Paul Burstow’s local A&E and maternity department.
Doctors acting illegally over abortion consent, inspection shows
Doctors are breaking the law if they “pre-sign” abortion consent forms, the government has said.
'Prudent' regulator amasses 50 per cent surplus
A £3.4m surplus run up by the body responsible for regulating fertility treatment could pay for up to 850 in vitro fertilisation cycles if returned to providers, it has been claimed.
Trust backtracks on umbilical blood collections
A foundation trust has seemingly backtracked on a scheme to offer mothers a private facility to collect blood from their baby’s umbilical cord.
Chief midwife brands Lansley's comments 'below the belt'
The chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives has hit back at the health secretary over claims that clinicians were opposing the government’s health bill because of concerns about pensions.
Maternity services 'overwhelmed' by rising births
Maternity services in England and Wales have been “overwhelmed” by a rising number of births, including more complex cases, according to a new report.
Unions could resist reforms through 'non-cooperation'
Unions may consider non-cooperation action against the government’s NHS reforms, a leader has warned at the Liberal Democrat conference.
Changes to improve maternity care outlined
Hospitals across Wales are being given new guidance aimed at improving the care of pregnant and post-natal women and their babies.
First large hospital merger approved by CCP
A plan to shake up hospital care in Hampshire has become the first merger of large acute trusts to pass a key test designed to enshrine competition in the NHS.
Pregnancy-related deaths rise 'worrying' doctors
A rise in the number of women dying during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth has prompted leading doctors to call for something to be done about this “worrying” phenomenon.
Maternity units 'struggling' with rising birth rates
Rising birth rates are causing maternity units to struggle with the demand, according to a new report.
Maternity services need radical reform - RCOG
Maternity services should be radically reformed so that women receive the best care in the right place, according to a group of leading health experts.
Overview and scrutiny panel responsible for 'a tragedy', councillor says
The former chair of a county council’s health overview and scrutiny committee has described the delayed reconfiguration of a trust as “a tragedy”, and blamed the local HOSC.
'Patient-friendly' IVF centre opens
A new fertility centre in Southampton is the first in the UK to focus on ‘patient-friendly’ IVF and the health of mothers-to-be to help improve conception rates, a hospital trust said.
Trusts back reorganisation of services
Two hospital trusts in Shropshire are backing the reorganisation of services despite opposition from more than 20,000 local residents.
Midwife numbers to be reviewed
The Department of Health has said it will prioritise a review of nurse and midwife numbers.
Midwife-led units threatened by falling birth rates
Standalone midwife-led centres are under threat from high costs and falling numbers of deliveries, HSJ can exclusively reveal.
Women’s hospitals hit by tariff change
Hospitals are planning to lobby the government over the steep cuts to maternity income expected in 2011-12.
CQC warning over safety of maternity services at trust
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust has been warned after inspectors found it was not ensuring the safety of women in its maternity unit.
More on Maternity
Labour of love: making a maternity services reconfiguration successful
The reconfiguration of Manchester’s maternity services may have been a long time coming, but it has lessons for the rest of the country, finds Crispin Dowler.
How to improve patient satisfaction in maternity services
Daily conversations between managers and new mothers about their care are helping improve patient satisfaction and staff morale. Debby Gould and colleagues at University College London explain.
Why life insurance is a vital consideration for new parents
New parents celebrating a new arrival can often neglect to plan for the future, especially if the worst happens and a parent dies. Sainsbury’s Finance can provide cover to secure a family’s future.
Can maternity care learn from how the retail sector operates?
Good managers will often look at other sectors to bring across good ideas and examples of good practice, but could maternity managers learn something from counterparts in the retail sector? Edwin van Teijlingen and Emma Pitchforth investigate.
Battling the elements: how one trust's fight for foundation status holds valuable lessons
Despite winter snow and a flu outbreak, a high profile trust reorganisation was pushed through in order to start addressing debt problems, low performance and poor service design. Their commitment may result in the rescuing of the trust’s goal of foundation status, as Daloni Carlisle reports.
How clinically driven antenatal care can deliver better value maternity services
Evidence based care employed at a maternity unit delivered better value services and enabled more women to meet with their consultant. Francesca Garrard and Harini Narayan from The Great Western Hospital explain.
