A new report from the Care Quality Commission highlighting shortcomings in maternity services at St Helier Hospital, has led to Merton Council seeking urgent talks with hospital management.

Maternity services were downgraded to “Requires improvement”, the assessment for “Well led” was downgraded to “Requires improvement”, and the safety rating was deemed “Inadequate”.

The CQC inspection found:

• The service did not have enough midwifery and nursing staff in the right areas with the right qualifications, skills and training to keep women safe from avoidable harm and to provide the right care and treatment
• Systems to ensure emergency equipment was checked and safe for use were not effective. Inspectors found out of date and missing equipment on the neonatal resuscitation trolley even though the trolley had been checked daily
• Although staff carried out daily safety checks of specialist equipment these were not effective. Resuscitation devices for newborns with breathing difficulties across the service were past their service contract, this was on the risk register as an extreme risk
• Systems and processes to safely prescribe, administer and store medicines were not always effective.

Councillor Peter McCabe, Cabinet Member for Health at Merton Council said: “NHS front line staff work tirelessly on behalf of our community. However, the results of this inspection will be alarming to the residents of Merton. I have arranged an urgent meeting with Senior NHS staff to express my grave concerns.

“St Helier is a much-loved hospital for local people, but with this news and reports last year of disrepair and crumbling, dilapidated buildings many in the community are worried about its future. St Helier needs proper investment now so that patients can receive the standard of care they need, and staff can work in a safe environment.”