The report on the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust by the
Care Quality Commission (CQC) was highly critical of the maternity services.
The evaluation – carried out from January to March this year – found a ‘lack of leadership’ and ‘shared helplessness’ among staff.
It also found bed shortages, poor community services and old-fashioned ways of recording admittance information.
Jacque Gerrard, RCM director for England, said: ‘There have been significant and wide-ranging changes and improvements to maternity services at the trust since the information for this report was gathered over six months ago.
‘There is no doubt that changes were needed and these are now taking place.
‘The head of midwifery, midwives and staff in the maternity service are determined to provide safe and high quality services for women.
‘The trust has supported major improvements in staffing levels and there have been considerable changes to governance, midwifery supervision and better ways of working across all of the trust’s sites.
‘I look forward to seeing a significantly improved maternity service at the trust as a result of these changes, and I hope they will reassure women in the area that they can look forward to seeing significant improvements in the care they receive.’
