Bosses vow to improve maternity standards
Hospital bosses have vowed to improve governance, processes and standards of maternity care following a damning report.
At a Dudley Group Trust meeting yesterday (THURS), officials announced that a maternity improvement plan was in place with additional training for midwives.
It comes as it was revealed that a total of 43 serious incidents were recorded over a 20-month period.
Bosses said that all families had been contacted with a 'commitment and promise' to have any of their questions answered.
During a presentation to board members, chief nurse, Siobhan Jordan, said: "We were not learning from the mistakes, but we set up a Quality Inspection Board (QIB) with many experts in Midwifery.
"There were meetings and engagements but most importantly engagement with the patients. If something is flagged up then we are looking at.
"Improved maternity governance is key and we are not just becoming isolated - we want to look at other organisations and work with those too."
Support will also be given from Birmingham Women's Hospital and the Maternity Unit at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.
Other improvements have been added including peer reviews, additional training, consultant appointments and an improved midwife to birth ratio of 1:28.
Ms Jordan continued: "The whole approach is lets really draw down on this and get things right the first time and all staff are in the same mindset."
Doug Wulff, non-executive director on the board, said: "There has been a real sense that everyone wanted all the issues to be corrected and bring improvement via the QIB.
"I think there are a lot of things in place now that were not before. We have morphed into the ongoing improvement plan and that will always be monitored."
Jennie Ord, chair of the meeting, added: "We have had a real root and branch look into provisions across the system to make sure that we give the best possible care."
Dudley parents, Louise and Craig Oakley, were left furious by the way they were treated at the hospital following the death of their son, Myles.
Diane Wake, chief executive, said: "We would like to offer our heartfelt condolences and apologies to the family of Myles Oakley for their tragic loss. We are unable to comment any further on individual cases."
