Baby death East Kent NHS trust reaches 'turning point'
Kaye Wilson, chief midwife for the South East at NHS England, said: "This report marks a turning point for services at East Kent and is the result of the commitment, determination and sheer hard work of midwives, obstetricians and the whole maternity team."Only one maternity unit in south-east England received a better CQC rating, Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, which was outstanding.The changes to the classification of the two Kent units came after an unannounced inspection in December.Serena Coleman, CQC's deputy director of operations in Kent, said: "We found significant improvements and a better quality service for women, people using the service and their babies."This turnaround in ratings across both services demonstrates what can be achieved with strong and capable leaders who focus on an inclusive and positive culture."
The CQC report said concerns remained about the size of labour rooms, which were not always big enough to include essential equipment like infant resuscitation devices.Sarah Hayes, chief nursing and midwifery officer at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, said the improvements were "important for our families, staff and our communities".The trust's overall rating and the overall rating for both hospitals remain unchanged, and rated as requires improvement.It said it planned to start a rebuild of the maternity unit in Margate later this year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘Failings' in care of ex-cricketer Graham Thorpe in months before he died, coroner says
There were 'failings' in the provision of care to former England cricketer Graham Thorpe in the months before he died, a coroner has said. Speaking at the inquest into Mr Thorpe's death, Jonathan Stevens then recorded a conclusion of suicide. Mr Thorpe was not perceived to be in a 'crisis situation' by healthcare professionals after they were told he had been asking his wife 'for help to end his life' weeks before he died, an inquest heard. The 55-year-old died on the morning of 4 August 2024 after being struck by a train at a railway station in Surrey. His widow, Amanda Thorpe, said he had taken his own life. An inquest at Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking heard he had 'spiralled into depression' after losing his job as a batting coach in 2022, and he had tried to take his own life on another occasion. After missing an appointment with the community mental health team on June 28 2024, care co-ordinator Katie Johnson spoke to Mr Thorpe's wife on the phone who told her he was 'constantly asking for help to end his life', the court heard. Ms Johnson then spoke to Mr Thorpe who told her he 'hadn't been out for a while' and 'didn't see the point of being here' but had no immediate plans to act on suicidal thoughts, the inquest heard. An investigation was carried out by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust after his death, which details a number of findings and recommendations. Dr Shriti Burgul, a consultant psychiatrist who reviewed the investigation's report before it was finalised, told the court on Friday that one of the findings was that 'it was noted that Graham's presentation at his appointment on 28 June 2024 was in keeping with previous presentations and not perceived by the team as a crisis situation'. Given the conversation was over the phone, the psychiatrist was asked if it would have been appropriate to arrange to see Mr Thorpe very quickly. She said: 'In the wisdom of hindsight, then yes, a home visit would have been clinically indicated,' adding: 'I think the team's view at that point was this was part of his chronic presentation.' Dr Burgul was asked if arranging an appointment for two weeks was an appropriate response and she said in the absence of Mr Thorpe expressing 'active intent' or an 'active plan', it would be appropriate to allow two weeks. She said Mr Thorpe was not at the level of requiring intervention from the home treatment team. The psychiatrist was asked if there was any evidence that if there had been an in-person assessment for Mr Thorpe, there would have been a different outcome, and she replied 'no'. The investigation noted that a letter from when Mr Thorpe was discharged from a private hospital in July 2022 said a neuropsychologist should be identified to provide further support, the inquest heard. This was never done by the private provider or the GP, and a risk panel advised it should be explored in June 2024, Dr Burgul said. Asked whether there was any neuropsychological impact that could have affected the cricketer's ability to engage in appointments, given he missed some, the psychiatrist said 'it's a possibility, yes'. Mr Thorpe's cause of death was recorded by a pathologist as multiple injuries, the coroner said. The inquest previously heard that while on tour in Australia, there was an 'incident involving a video that was taken that had adverse publicity'. Mr Thorpe shared a video with some friends which was leaked, and the incident was 'blown out of all proportion', leaving Mr Thorpe 'distraught', Ms Thorpe said. According to reports at the time, the video, filmed after a dismal Ashes series which England lost 4-0, showed Tasmanian police breaking up a drinking session involving both England and Australia players. Ms Thorpe described it as a 'horrible' time, and said the later termination of his employment with the England and Wales Cricket Board was a 'real shock to Graham', which was the 'start of the decline of his mental health'. Mr Thorpe was a mainstay in the England set-up for many years, first as a batter between 1993 and 2005 before spending 12 years in coaching roles. During a distinguished international career, he struck 16 Test hundreds for England, including a debut century against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1993, and represented his country 182 times in all formats. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to to find a helpline near you.
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Taunton GP who put bodily fluids in coffee struck off
A doctor who put his semen into a cup of coffee he made for a woman has been permanently struck off. Former Taunton GP Nicholas Chapman, 57, was found guilty in June 2023 of attempting to engage in sexual activity without consent. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order. Two years on, a medical tribunal panel has ruled he should be erased from the medical register. In a judgement published online, the tribunal panel said "reasonable" members of the public would find Chapman's conviction "deplorable", adding they would be "appalled" if he were not struck off. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal document detailed how Chapman had targeted a second woman – referred to only as Ms A – over a number of said he had shown her photos of naked women without her consent and suggested she should look for him on an unnamed dating app. The victim also said he had kissed her and, on a separate occasion, had pinched her bottom during a hug – allegations that Chapman denied. The tribunal panel ruled that these actions were "unwanted", constituted sexual harassment and created "a degrading environment" for the victim. During the 2023 trial at Gloucester Crown Court, the first woman, known to the tribunal as Ms B, described the coffee semen incident as "devious and cowardly". She said she hoped to move on but would "have to accept that the mental and emotional trauma I have suffered throughout this will always remain with me in some way". At the time, Chapman was made subject to a 10-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim and was placed on the sex offenders' list for five years. 'No evidence of apology' The medical tribunal heard evidence from a doctor who worked at the same practice as Chapman. The doctor said the impact of Chapman's actions on the reputation of the practice and trust in doctors was "still huge". "There continue to be comments inside and outside of the practice on a regular basis like, 'Oh we don't talk about Dr Chapman'," they added. "Some patients are put off coming to the practice and some have a mistrust of seeking help when they need it, or whether things would remain confidential," the doctor continued. Handing down their judgement, the tribunal panel said Chapman had shown a "lack of insight" about the impact of his actions. They highlighted that they had "received no evidence of apology, reflection, insight or remediation from Dr Chapman in respect of his conviction". While Chapman told the tribunal panel he accepted his conviction, he continued to maintain his innocence."Dr Chapman had undermined and breached the trust and confidence of patients and the public in the medical profession," the tribunal report said, adding he had brought the profession into "disrepute".
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Yorkshire doctors join national five-day strike
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, across Yorkshire are taking part in a national five-day strike after the government failed to agree a pay deal with their of the British Medical Association (BMA), who work in hospitals across the region, joined others across England in the walkout, which began at 07:00 BST on leader Dr Tom Dolphin said: "We are very sorry that strikes have become necessary."Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he did not believe the BMA had "engaged with me in good faith" over bids to avert the strike. This year resident doctors are getting an average pay rise of 5.4%, following a 22% increase over the previous two the BMA said wages were still around 20% lower in real terms than in 2008, even after an increase in August. 'My heart is always at work' Speaking from the picket line outside Leeds General Infirmary (LGI), Cristina Costache, who is a paediatrics registrar at LGI and a PhD student, said the walkout had been "a lot better supported than I thought it would be - it's actually really well supported".However, Dr Costache said striking had been a "very difficult decision to make".She said: "I get depressed if I'm not in work. My heart is always at work. "But I also care about my colleagues and my profession, and what we're really feeling is the gaps."There's always a gap on the paediatric registrar rota. We end up having to cover the job of another paediatric registrar, of even two other paediatric registrars."We have fewer people working and lots of people leaving the profession, that's the knock-on effect on the patient eventually."Dr Costache said she left Romania due to the poor health infrastructure and lack of said: "It's really sad to have seen in the last nine years how the NHS is heading that way."Hence I'm a trade unionist because I feel like I want to tell people, please don't do what has happened there." 'A last resort' Dr Stella Chatzieleftheriou, a UK resident doctors committee representative from Sheffield, said she was worried about the "sustainability" of the medical workforce at the current wages."I've seen dozens of colleagues leave the country and relocate to New Zealand and Australia and they don't have any plans to return," she said."The only way to retain the doctors we have already, and hopefully bring some back, is to offer a pay that is close to comparable."Dr Chatzieleftheriou said strike action had been a "last resort".The strike's core, she said, was a "concern for long-term patient safety if we can't keep the workforce we have and bring back doctors that we have lost over the years".She concluded: "Ultimately you need a well-paid, motivated and happy work force."That, in the long term, will improve outcomes for patient care." 'Emergency departments open' In West Yorkshire, hospitals prepared for the strike by altering rotas and, in some cases, postponing Evans, deputy chief executive at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury hospitals, said: "We have only stood down a very small amount of activity, so if you haven't been contacted that planned care will continue."He added: "Emergency departments are still open, so those that need urgent care please do attend where that's required." 'Nothing else will work' A number of people in Sheffield gave their opinion on the strike to the firefighter Darren Higgins, 58, said striking doctors were "doing the right thing".He said: "It's something that they've got to do to get the pay rise that they're after."Nothing else will work. "Being an ex-firefighter for 30 years, I've been involved in strikes, it's the only way that the government will listen."However, he said he thought the rise asked for was too much."I do think what they're asking for is a bit excessive. I think they need to go in with a lower percentage. "I mean 22% over two years is a good raise. But for the job that they do I think it is a fair percentage." 'Patient safety at risk' Psychology student Freya Wallace, 20, said she agreed doctors deserved to be paid said: "I think it's fair that they should get more pay. If that's what they've got to do to get the money that they deserve, then I think that's fair enough."She said: "If it was any other profession, people would have no problem with it."However, she said the strike would "absolutely put patient safety at risk". "But I think people get better treatment when doctors are less overworked and better paid," she said."So I think in the long term it would really benefit patients." 'It's totally wrong' Jan Palmer, 62, from Wakefield, said she had recently been diagnosed with cancer and worried the strike would affect the speed of her described the strike as "totally wrong"."I've just had a conversation with a person who's had a serious motorbike accident," she said."He should have been seen tomorrow and his next appointment now is September."I just don't understand how they can leave people like that."She added: "I've just found out I have breast cancer, I've been seen within four weeks."I've got to have surgery. I'm only hoping now that this won't affect my surgery."And I do feel sorry for them, the nurses as well, but there's only so much we've got in the pot." Streeting said the NHS would face a challenging few days during the doctors' strike as it strived to keep as many services as possible after the walkout began he said it was not possible to eliminate disruption, but it was "being kept to a minimum". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
