- Report says most NHS maternity hospitals are ‘inadequate’ or ‘require improvement’
- The Care Quality Commission says 65% do not meet safety standards, up from 54% last year
- The regulator said one in ten were “inadequate” compared to none last year
A record number of NHS maternity services are failing to meet safety standards, a report suggests.
Around 65 per cent of services are considered “inadequate” or “requires improvement” for safety reasons, up from 54 per cent last year, according to the Care Quality Commission.
And the number of ambulance services needing safety improvements has doubled in a year – from 30 to 60 per cent.
Record number of NHS maternity services are failing to meet safety standards, Care Quality Commission suggests
The number of ambulance services needing safety improvements has also doubled in a year, from 30 per cent to 60 per cent.
One in ten are rated inadequate, compared to zero last year, according to the healthcare regulator.
The CQC, which has inspected 73 per cent of acute hospital services, said: “The overall picture is of a service and staff under enormous pressure.”
The report highlighted issues including maternity staffing levels that are below the recommended number needed and “fragile” cover rotations.
