Hospital boss apologises for maternity staff concerns

Anthony May said he was sorry colleagues had to go to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to raise concerns

The chief executive of a hospital trust being investigated over maternity failings has apologised to staff after the head of the inquiry said progress had "stalled".

On Thursday, senior midwife Donna Ockenden said the trust needed to "get back on track" with its improvements.

Staff at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust bypassed leaders and went straight to the healthcare watchdog with their concerns, prompting an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June.

Anthony May, the trust's boss, admitted its internal arrangements for staff to raise concerns were "not working" and vowed to make changes.

'More to do'

He said of colleagues going to the CQC: "I'm so sorry they had to do that, and I'd like to apologise to them because we should be picking those things up in the unit, on the ground.

"We've got arrangements in place for people to speak up, but clearly people don't have the confidence in them and that's the thing we're concerned about."

The CQC report following the inspection has not yet been published, but limited details shared in NUH board papers said the mix of skills among workers had been insufficient during the visit.

Responding to the CQC's findings, Ms Ockenden said parents who had recently received maternity care under the trust had raised concerns similar to those she had heard 18 months ago, around the state of wards and a "lack of compassion".

However, Mr May said he believed things had changed, adding the CQC's most recent feedback included "largely positive" responses from mothers, but accepted there was progress yet to be made.

He and other senior colleagues met Ms Ockenden earlier in the week and "collectively reached a view that there was more to do", he said.

Ms Ockenden launched the inquiry into Nottingham's maternity services in September 2022

"We've been accused in the past of not being open about our problems.

"We are being now, and with that of course there is some risk that people lose confidence in us - that's the last thing we want," Mr May added.

Responding to concerns over staffing, the trust chief said he expected them to be fully staffed by September and said it was "doing well" at retaining staff.

The trust said it had recently appointed more than 40 midwives who would be starting in the coming months and that no newly-qualified midwives who had joined in the last 12 months had subsequently left.

It also said, in the last 12 months, it had a 33% reduction in "bank or agency use" in midwifery.

In terms of support tailored to maternity staff, NUH said it offered support from its professional midwifery advocates - practising midwives who support others - and a preceptorship scheme to help newly-qualified midwives to adapt and grow in their starting roles.

Mr May said maternity staffing levels met national guidelines, but following talks with trusts, the new chief nurse and medical director, staff were not reassured that it was enough.

However, he said the trust "had budget to staff above the national guidelines, and we're recruiting now".

The chief executive said the trust had a "good grip on what's going on but needed to find a better way of engaging with staff".

"I'm sure we can change, I am absolutely sure we can," he added.

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