Cornwall maternity centre 'requires improvement', CQC report finds

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected services at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Penrice Birthing Unit at St Austell Hospital and Helston Birth Centre

A report has found a maternity centre in Cornwall requires improvement.

Services were inspected at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, St Austell Hospital and Helston Birth Centre by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Penrice Birthing Unit, a maternity centre at St Austell Hospital, was rated as requires improvement.

Ratings for the maternity services at Royal Cornwall Hospital and Helston Birth Centre were both good.

CQC's overall rating for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is unchanged by this inspection. It remains requires improvement overall.

'Continue to monitor'

Cath Campbell, CQC deputy director of operations in the south, said: "Women and babies generally received good care in the maternity services we inspected at the trust, and leaders had the skills and abilities to help staff meet people's needs.

"We saw staff managing challenges well and working to continually improve services for people using them.

"This included engaging well with women and birthing people to plan and manage their care. The services also had maternity safety champions, who listened to people's views to support improvement and learning.

"It was encouraging that across all the services we inspected, leaders had the skills and abilities to meet people's needs, and they supported and encouraged staff to develop their skills and take on more senior roles. This supported the future care the service will be able to provide to people."

She added that improvements were needed, "particularly at Penrice Birthing Unit where access to adult resuscitation equipment must improve, as well as ensuring all staff practice the trust's baby abduction policy".

"Also, while staff at Penrice Birthing Unit completed people's medicines records accurately, they didn't always manage and store medicines safely.

"We will continue to monitor the services, so the trust can build on where it's providing good care, and make improvements where they're needed."

Correction Friday, 24 February, 2023: An earlier version of this story stated two maternity wards required improvements following CQC inspections. The story has been amended to make it clear only one maternity ward has been given this rating.