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Calls to improve maternity ward Calls to improve maternity ward
(about 22 hours later)
A hospital which was criticised after the deaths of two newborn babies must employ more permanent midwives and open more maternity beds, a watchdog says.A hospital which was criticised after the deaths of two newborn babies must employ more permanent midwives and open more maternity beds, a watchdog says.
A Care Quality Commission (CQC) report found Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust had improved its maternity services since 2008. A Care Quality Commission (CQC) report found Milton Keynes Hospital had improved its maternity services since 2008, but it said more work was needed.
But it said more work was needed. The hospital said it was working to recruit more midwives. The hospital said it was working to recruit more midwives.
Inquests into babies' deaths in 2007 and 2009 criticised the hospital. Inquests held into the babies' deaths in 2007 and 2009 criticised the hospital.
The CQC said Milton Keynes Hospital must accelerate improvements to its maternity services to ensure it provided "safe and effective care for mothers and babies".The CQC said Milton Keynes Hospital must accelerate improvements to its maternity services to ensure it provided "safe and effective care for mothers and babies".
It said temporary measures put in place by the hospital trust were "not sustainable" and added that the trust should concentrate on plans to recruit more permanent midwives and open more beds permanently. It said temporary measures put in place by the hospital trust were "not sustainable" and added the trust should concentrate on plans to recruit more permanent midwives and open more beds permanently.
We are steadily appointing additional midwives to our team and our recruitment drive continues Dr Sandro Lanzon-MillerMilton Keynes Hospital Mr White said he had to assist with the birth of Madeleine
It also said the trust must plan better for emergency situations.It also said the trust must plan better for emergency situations.
New father Darren White told the BBC his girlfriend Kelly gave birth to their daughter at home after she was turned away by the hospital and was instructed to have a hot bath and painkillers.
The incident, which happened last week, was not subject to the CQC report.
Mr White added: "They said 'leave it until the last possible moment' because they were busy and if we could hold out until after seven o'clock, when the midwives' shifts change.
"Kelly was screaming... and ended up having the baby in the bath."
Overstretched staff
The CQC checked progress in implementing recommendations made in 2008 by the previous regulator, the Healthcare Commission.The CQC checked progress in implementing recommendations made in 2008 by the previous regulator, the Healthcare Commission.
The commission had investigated the unit after the death of Romy Feast in 2007.The commission had investigated the unit after the death of Romy Feast in 2007.
We are steadily appointing additional midwives to our team and our recruitment drive continues Dr Sandro Lanzon-MillerMilton Keynes Hospital
She died less than an hour after being delivered by Caesarean section.She died less than an hour after being delivered by Caesarean section.
Milton Keynes coroner Thomas Osborne found that the surgery was needed straight away but was delayed by three hours because of "system and communication failures". Milton Keynes coroner Thomas Osborne found surgery was needed straight away but was delayed by three hours because of "system and communication failures".
The hospital was also criticised over the death of Ebony McCall in May 2009.The hospital was also criticised over the death of Ebony McCall in May 2009.
"Systems failures" and an overstretched staff contributed to her death, Mr Osborne ruled in December."Systems failures" and an overstretched staff contributed to her death, Mr Osborne ruled in December.
Dr Sandro Lanzon-Miller, medical director at Milton Keynes Hospital, said: "We took action immediately following the visit made by the Healthcare Commission.Dr Sandro Lanzon-Miller, medical director at Milton Keynes Hospital, said: "We took action immediately following the visit made by the Healthcare Commission.
"We put temporary measures in place to ensure that we always have enough midwives to deliver safe and effective care to local mothers, while we work to recruit more permanent midwives."We put temporary measures in place to ensure that we always have enough midwives to deliver safe and effective care to local mothers, while we work to recruit more permanent midwives.
"We are steadily appointing additional midwives to our team and our recruitment drive continues.""We are steadily appointing additional midwives to our team and our recruitment drive continues."