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| Basildon University Hospital maternity unit rated 'inadequate' | Basildon University Hospital maternity unit rated 'inadequate' |
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| High-risk women at a maternity unit were not monitored closely enough and there was a "lack of learning" from a mother's death, inspectors found. | High-risk women at a maternity unit were not monitored closely enough and there was a "lack of learning" from a mother's death, inspectors found. |
| A Care Quality Commission (CQC) report rated the unit at Basildon University Hospital as inadequate with "failings" found in six other serious cases. | A Care Quality Commission (CQC) report rated the unit at Basildon University Hospital as inadequate with "failings" found in six other serious cases. |
| Inspectors carried out unannounced checks in June after a whistleblower voiced fears about patient safety. | Inspectors carried out unannounced checks in June after a whistleblower voiced fears about patient safety. |
| Clare Panniker, of the hospital trust, said it was "focused" on improving. | Clare Panniker, of the hospital trust, said it was "focused" on improving. |
| The unit was criticised following the deaths of baby Ennis Pecaku in September 2018 and mother Gabriela Pintilie, 36, in February 2019. | The unit was criticised following the deaths of baby Ennis Pecaku in September 2018 and mother Gabriela Pintilie, 36, in February 2019. |
| The CQC previously carried out an inspection of the department the month Mrs Pintilie died and said the unit, which had once been rated outstanding, required improvement. | The CQC previously carried out an inspection of the department the month Mrs Pintilie died and said the unit, which had once been rated outstanding, required improvement. |
| Inspectors returned for the surprise "focused" inspection after being contacted by an anonymous whistleblower. | Inspectors returned for the surprise "focused" inspection after being contacted by an anonymous whistleblower. |
| The report found babies were born in a poor condition and then transferred for cooling therapy, which can be offered for newborn babies with brain injury caused by oxygen shortage during birth. | The report found babies were born in a poor condition and then transferred for cooling therapy, which can be offered for newborn babies with brain injury caused by oxygen shortage during birth. |
| The CQC said it could not provide further information on the individual cases as it may identify the people involved. | The CQC said it could not provide further information on the individual cases as it may identify the people involved. |
| During their visit, inspectors found: | During their visit, inspectors found: |
| The CQC also referred to issues relating to the death of Mrs Pintilie, who was not named in the report, and said five serious incidents "identified the same failings of care". | The CQC also referred to issues relating to the death of Mrs Pintilie, who was not named in the report, and said five serious incidents "identified the same failings of care". |
| "This demonstrated there had been a lack of learning from previous incidents and actions put in place were not embedded." | "This demonstrated there had been a lack of learning from previous incidents and actions put in place were not embedded." |
| However, it also identified several areas of good practice. | However, it also identified several areas of good practice. |
| 'There's no communication between anyone' | 'There's no communication between anyone' |
| A woman, whose son died shortly after he was born in January after 22 weeks of pregnancy, has been critical of the care she received at Basildon. | A woman, whose son died shortly after he was born in January after 22 weeks of pregnancy, has been critical of the care she received at Basildon. |
| Lauren, who did not wish to give her surname, said she was in the hospital for three weeks before his birth. | |
| "Nearly every day I was having doctors come in encouraging me that I needed to terminate the pregnancy, even though there was nothing wrong with him," she said. | |
| "We ended up getting the midwife to write down 'Do not offer [advice to terminate] any more'." | "We ended up getting the midwife to write down 'Do not offer [advice to terminate] any more'." |
| She had miscarried during a previous pregnancy and miscarried again in July, during the coronavirus pandemic. | She had miscarried during a previous pregnancy and miscarried again in July, during the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Lauren said communication across the unit needed to be consistent and staff needed more compassion for patients as Covid-19 had meant women had to attend important scans alone. | Lauren said communication across the unit needed to be consistent and staff needed more compassion for patients as Covid-19 had meant women had to attend important scans alone. |
| "Every time I've had to go up the hospital I've had to explain the whole situation from beginning to end to everyone - there's no communication between anyone," she said. | "Every time I've had to go up the hospital I've had to explain the whole situation from beginning to end to everyone - there's no communication between anyone," she said. |
| "With my most recent miscarriage I had four scans - one of which I did have a midwife come in for support which was lovely - but I had scans where I was all on my own to receive bad news. There are situations where people need support." | "With my most recent miscarriage I had four scans - one of which I did have a midwife come in for support which was lovely - but I had scans where I was all on my own to receive bad news. There are situations where people need support." |
| Ms Panniker, chief executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital, said the serious cases were being investigated independently, £1.8m had been invested in staffing and a new clinical director was in post. | Ms Panniker, chief executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital, said the serious cases were being investigated independently, £1.8m had been invested in staffing and a new clinical director was in post. |
| Nine midwives and two consultants had already started working and 20 more midwives would join in the autumn. | Nine midwives and two consultants had already started working and 20 more midwives would join in the autumn. |
| She also said its poor workplace culture was "unacceptable" and would not be tolerated. | She also said its poor workplace culture was "unacceptable" and would not be tolerated. |
| "We've been really focused in the last few months in making the improvements that mean women can be confident to come and have their babies in the maternity department at Basildon and be very safe in the process," she said. | "We've been really focused in the last few months in making the improvements that mean women can be confident to come and have their babies in the maternity department at Basildon and be very safe in the process," she said. |
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