Maternity bosses 'listening to families' after damning report highlighted discrimination and mortality rate

Bosses at a Black Country hospital’s maternity service which was savagely criticised in a damning review said they are “listening to families” in a bid to improve.

Earlier this year Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (SWBH) was one of 14 in the UK investigated in Baroness Amos’s final report of the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation.

The report said the investigation painted a “deeply concerning” picture with families and staff experiencing racism and discrimination and the neonatal mortality rate exceeding comparable trusts by five per cent.

At an NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) and NHS Black Country Joint ICB Cluster Board meeting, a video clip presented some of the work being carried out to improve things at the trust.

And board members were given assurance steps have been put in place to improve outcomes.

The work being done at SWBH includes meeting with faith groups, charities and ‘trusted voices’ to ensure women and families are heard.

The experiences and feedback shared will be used to shape improvements and create change.

In response to the racism findings, the trust has implemented new training for staff and forum for families to share what having a baby at SWBH is like.

Other measures include improved accessibility into wards and departments so patients can find their way.

In the video, Claire McDermott, director of midwifery at SWBH, said: “I want to talk to you about how we’re listening to our women, families and communities and the things we are doing to try and improve our services.

“The Baroness Amos report unveiled things that were deeply disturbing and we do want to apologise to anybody that’s received care that falls below the standards.

“We know that rebuilding the trust of our families and communities won’t happen through words alone and we need to do this through action.”

The BSOL and Black Country Cluster Perinatal Improvement Programme was established in the wake of the Amos review and other national investigations into services.

A report to the board said: “These reviews highlight the need for strongerleadership, governance, accountability, safer care, improved use of data, greater co-production with women and families, and action to reduce inequalities.

“In response, the cluster has strengthened its maternity and neonatal improvement arrangements to align with NHS England’s Maternity and Neonatal 10 Point Plan and the emerging Regional operating model.

“Revised governance, oversight and improvement programmes are now in place to support delivery of safer, higher-quality and more equitable services.

“The board can take reasonable assurance that effective governance arrangements, oversight mechanisms and improvement programmes are in place across the cluster to manage identified maternity and neonatal risks.

“Significant improvement work is under way, including enhanced performance oversight, perinatal mortality reviews, health inequalities initiatives, patient and family engagement, and provider-specific improvement programmes.

“Further work is required to fully align assurance frameworks, performance reporting, outcome measures and system-wide accountability across the newly clustered system.

“However, the revised arrangements provide a strong foundation for delivering national priorities and improving outcomes for women, babies and families across Birmingham and Solihull and the Black Country.”

Members also heard how a recent Care Quality Commission inspection had found maternity services at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham had significantly improved to earn a ‘good’ rating.