Inadequate maternity services at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospital

Maternity care at both hospitals has been rated inadequate after Care Quality Commission inspectors visited the units as part of the ongoing national maternity inspection.

Clinical negligence lawyers at law firm Leigh Day say that against the backdrop of worsening maternity care across England, the ratings for LRI and LGH are worrying for families.

The CQC said there had been a “deterioration in the level of care” provided in maternity services at two of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust three maternity sites, LRI and LGH.

They pointed to short staffing, risk assessments and medicine storage, with staff “pushed to the brink” and at times unable to take breaks due to demand.

It said short staffing put women and babies at risk.

The CQC inspected the hospitals in the “safe” and “well-led” categories earlier this year.

The LRI and LGH also saw its well-led and overall maternity rating downgraded from “good” to “requires improvement”.

A third site, St Mary’s Birth Centre, remains “good” in terms of safety and overall but saw its “well-led” rating drop.

The University Hospital Trust trust was given a warning notice to improve by the CQC.

Healthcare lawyers at Leigh Day who represent families at other hospitals in the Midlands said the inspectors’ findings reflected those raised at other health trusts across the country and added to the growing picture of unsafe maternity provision.

Leigh Day solicitor Nandi Jordan said:

“It is very worrying to read yet another inspection report that makes clear that maternity care in the UK is failing families who can not be sure of their safety.

“We are also concerned that standards of care outlined in the CCG report underline an increasing awareness in the UK that brown and black women are less safe than white women when it comes to maternity care.

“The themes within these reports are similar to those that have been raised at other trusts across the country, and families will want to know that the issues highlighted are being addressed as urgently as possible in order to maintain patient safety.”

If you are concerned about the care you have received from maternity services in Leicester and want legal advice, please get in touch with Leigh Day medical negligence team.