East Kent hospitals: Care watchdog inspects trust after baby death apology

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Harry Richford with parents Sarah and TomChecklist copyright Family handout
Checklist caption The have confidence is seemingly to be criticised at an inquest into the death of toddler Harry Richford on Friday

England’s care watchdog has performed a no-undercover agent inspection of an NHS have confidence on the centre of concerns over the that you would possibly perchance perchance perchance judge of preventable deaths of babies.

The Care Quality Price (CQC) is investigating East Kent Hospitals NHS Belief however has now not yet determined whether or to now not prosecute.

At the least seven preventable toddler deaths would possibly perchance maybe even possess took place on the have confidence since 2016,a BBC investigation found.

The have confidence apologised and stated it had made “considerable changes”.

It comes as the have confidence is seemingly to be heavily criticised on Friday at an inquest into the death of toddler Harry Richford.

Checklist caption East Kent is with out a doubt one of England’s wonderful neatly being facility trusts

East Kent Hospitals NHS Belief consists of 5 hospitals and community clinics and almost 7,000 babies are born there every 365 days.

On Thursday, the BBC published considerable concerns had been raised about maternity services on the have confidence, and a series of preventable toddler deaths would possibly perchance maybe even possess took place there.

On Wednesday and Thursday this week, the have confidence’s maternity services had been arena to an unannounced inspection from the CQC.

Ted Baker, chief inspector for hospitals on the associated price stated: “CQC’s 2016 inspection rated maternity services at East Kent NHS Foundation Belief as ‘requires enchancment’, identifying that staffing ranges had been impacting on the usual of affected person care.

“That ranking remained unchanged at our 2018 inspection, for the length of which it change into eminent that the division had modified its manner to foetal monitoring coaching after concerns had been acknowledged.

“The have confidence stays arena to shut monitoring and further inspections. We conducted an unannounced inspection of the have confidence’s maternity services and we can put up the findings of this inspection as rapidly as we’re in a dwelling to.”

He stated the CQC’s investigation change into ongoing and no resolution had yet been taken on whether or to now not prosecute the have confidence for a failure to fabricate valid care or therapy, ensuing in avoidable difficulty or a considerable threat of avoidable difficulty.

East Kent’s maternity care is anticipated to be heavily criticised later on Friday as the inquest into the death of Harry Richford ends.

Harry change into born in November 2017 on the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Sanatorium in Margate, however died seven days later after complications with his birth and aftercare.

All over the last three weeks, a decision of witnesses possess suggested the coroner there had been a succession of failures in Harry’s care, for which the have confidence has already apologised.

Checklist copyright Family handout
Checklist caption At the commence of the inquest, the have confidence apologised for the care Harry bought

On Thursday night time, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Belief stated in an announcement: “We are really sorry for the death of toddler Harry and our solutions and deepest sympathies trek out to Harry’s family.

“We accept that Harry’s care fell looking out the regular that we inquire of to provide every mother giving starting up in our neatly being facility and we’re fully cooperating with the CQC’s investigation into Harry Richford’s death.”

Belief paid £1.5m

Meanwhile, the BBC has chanced on the have confidence change into paid almost £1.5m for providing fair maternity care.

East Kent Hospitals NHS Belief had to certify it had met 10 safety standards to qualify for the £1,475,313 from the Maternity Incentive Map in 2018.

The blueprint change into launched by NHS Option, the moral arm of NHS trusts in England, to toughen maternity care and nick the associated price of errors.

Trusts had been required to assess whether or now not they had met the maternity safety “actions”, including reducing error and acting on the troubles of sufferers.

The have confidence change into in a dwelling to qualify for a price if its board licensed all standards had been met.

It change into belowthe identical blueprint that one other NHS have confidence– which change into on the centre of England’s wonderful inquiry into toddler deaths – change into furthermore paid almost £1m.

In expose to valid the cash, spent on new equipment, the have confidence licensed it change into assembly the total standards.

It change into then eligible for monies including £500,000 paid in by other trusts which had now not licensed themselves as assembly every requirement.

Responding to the £1.5m it bought, East Kent Hospitals stated: “The have confidence’s board reviewed the evidence that these 10 actions had been carried out in 365 days with out a doubt one of many blueprint, and had been assured that they are going to also show compliance.”

It added: “The have confidence shall be conducting a entire and vast-ranging review of its maternity provider and quality assurance to protest itself, the general public and the wider neatly being method and would possibly perchance maybe originate any changes which will be required.”

The have confidence has stated it made “considerable changes” to its maternity provider, on the change hand it recognised that the scale of change required has now not taken assign fleet sufficient.

The have confidence stated it is recruiting more doctors and would possibly perchance maybe very neatly be working with the NHS Maternity Beef up Programme.

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