Parents' experiences at 'inadequate' maternity unit

Alice Sands gave birth at Musgrove Park in March

A mother says she would be "apprehensive and worried" to have another baby at a hospital which was recently rated as "inadequate" by inspectors.

Alice Sands, from Taunton said she had a "tricky" experience when she gave birth to her son at Musgrove Park Hospital in March.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found expired milk in the fridge and concluded there had been a "deterioration" in the quality of care provided at the hospital.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's chief executive, Peter Lewis, apologised and said "significant action" had been taken in response to the concerns raised.

"We know we haven’t delivered to the standards we’d expect to deliver to, let alone what the CQC would expect us to deliver, but nevertheless it is still a disappointment," he added.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's chief executive, Peter Lewis said "significant action" had been taken in response to the concerns raised

Speaking about her experience at the hospital, Ms Sands said due to the delivery suite being full, she had to wait two days until they broke her waters.

She said her son was born within 28 minutes of going into the delivery room.

Ms Sands said she would be worried to have another baby at the hospital after the long wait time and she pain she experienced last time.

She said: “All the midwives did try their best, they did go above and beyond with what they had."

"But it seems like it was the facilities that put them down," she added.

Inspectors noted the buildings at Musgrove Park were in poor condition and required regular maintenance, which "posed an ongoing challenge for the quality of maternity services they were able to provide."

Alicia Mason is expecting her second child in October

Meanwhile, Alicia Mason, from Wellington, Somerset, who had her first baby via a c-section at Musgrove Park Hospital 18 months ago, said all the staff were "amazing" despite going through the "quite a traumatic experience" of giving birth.

In October, she plans on having her second child there.

She said: “I think maternity services are a bit all over the place in general at the moment."

"I’m still confident that I’ll have a positive experience," she added.

Danielle Bond said childbirth is a "daunting time"

Danielle Bond, from Creech St Michael, gave birth to her son 10 months ago.

She was induced at Musgrove Park for five days, and after more than 12 hours of labour, underwent an emergency c-section.

Although she said she was looked after "really well", she added: “It’s a daunting time anyway having a child, whether it’s your first or second.

"Every birth is different, every labour is different, so it must be difficult."