SEVEN in 10 maternity units are failing to meet crucial NHS safety targets, a damning report reveals.
Hospitals were ordered to get mum and baby units up to scratch after 2020’s Ockenden review of hundreds of needless deaths due to poor care.
But NHS bosses admit that only 37 out of 123 NHS hospital trusts – 30 per cent – are compliant with all 12 priorities laid out by top midwife Donna Ockenden.
Sara Ledger, of campaign charity Baby Lifeline, said: “This slow speed of change is not fair on families and not fair on the professionals looking after them.
“The actions set out by the report are immediate and essential and everything needs to be done to make them happen at pace.”
A report by England’s chief nursing officer, Ruth May, this week said three quarters of hospitals passed at least 10 out of 12 safety checks.
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But NHS bosses heard in a board meeting that there is still “significant work to do”.
Two of the hospital trusts failing to meet all the targets – in East Kent and Nottingham – are already under investigation following serious incidents.
Donna Ockenden’s interim report came in December 2020 during an inquiry into failings at the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust.
It laid out 12 “essential actions” including regular risk checks for mums-to-be, team staff training and getting expert leaders into midwife units.
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The final report was published in March and revealed hundreds of babies died because of staff shortages and cover-up culture at the two Shropshire hospitals.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “This latest update shows that three quarters of NHS trusts have implemented 10 out of 12 key clinical priorities.
“But there is clearly more work to be done to improve maternity services.
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“Every trust is expected to act on all of the immediate and essential actions from the final Ockenden report to deliver safer, more personalised care.
“The NHS has taken significant action including a new £127 million investment to boost workforce, strengthen leadership and increase neonatal cot capacity.”
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