Maternity services in special measures

Maternity services in the city have been put into special measures.

Healthcare regulator Monitor has found Milton Keynes Hospital in 'significant breach of its authorisation'.

Clinical advisers will be brought in to drive forward improvement.

The spotlight was thrown on the maternity services after babies Romy Feast and Ebony McCall both died due to failures in communication and staffing.

In December a report found that it had failed to meet 12 recommendations set out in 2008.

These include the recruitment of a consultant midwife and a sufficient number of additional midwives.

It the hospital fails to improve now, Monitor is threatening 'further regulatory action'.

Dr Nicholas Hicks, Chief Executive of NHS Milton Keynes and Director of Public Health, said: “NHS Milton Keynes has been working closely with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Monitor, the national regulators that have powers not available to local NHS commissioners.

“We welcome the decision announced by Monitor which requires the hospital to appoint external expert clinical advisers.

“The safety and quality of the care provided by all NHS organisations in Milton Keynes is of paramount importance to us all and we therefore welcome the steps taken to help accelerate the delivery of improvements within the hospital’s maternity service.

“We are confident the people of Milton Keynes value their local hospital, but it must continue to improve if it is to meet future challenges – ensuring standards in patient care improve and the NHS pound goes further. NHS Milton Keynes will continue to support and work with the hospital, the CQC, Monitor and other partners to ensure patients receive the quality of care they deserve.

“We hope this intervention will improve public confidence in the service.”