MATERNITY safety in the NHS is deteriorating with two thirds of clinics now below standard, a health watchdog warns.
The number of mother and baby units rated as “requires improvement” or “inadequate” his risen since last year, the Care Quality Commission said.
Getty65 per cent of NHS mother and baby units are considered below par, and one in ten are deemed inadequate[/caption]
On safety inspections, 65 per cent were below par compared with 54 per cent in 2022, and one in ten are deemed inadequate.
The CQC’s deputy CEO Kate Terroni said it is a “deteriorating picture” driven partly by poor staff communication and weak leadership.
Meanwhile, the number of ambulance services not meeting standards went from 30 to 60 per cent.
The CQC report also said patients were suffering because of rising waiting lists and problems getting GP appointments.
The CQC blamed staff shortages, financial inflation and strikes for NHS decline.
NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “While the NHS has made improvements to maternity services over the last decade, we are also increasing investment to grow our maternity workforce, strengthen leadership and improve culture.”
Sally Warren, of the King’s Fund think-tank, said: “This report reveals the sad reality that the quality of care that patients need and deserve is not being met in many parts of the NHS and social care.”
Louise Ansari, of Healthwatch England, added: “The report echoes many of the issues people have raised with us over recent years.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We are delivering on three major recovery plans to improve access to urgent and emergency, primary and elective care, and have made progress to significantly reduce the longest waits.”