Two Leeds hospitals' maternity services rated inadequate over safety risks
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) demanded urgent improvements to maternity services at Leeds general infirmary and St James's hospital as it downgraded them to 'inadequate'.
A BBC investigation this year found that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers may have been preventable at the two hospitals between January 2019 and July 2024.
The hospitals, run by Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust, are the latest to be engulfed by a maternity scandal that has revealed catastrophic failings in Nottingham, Shrewsbury and Telford, Morecambe Bay, east Kent and others.
The downgrading of maternity and neonatal services in Leeds follows unannounced inspections by the CQC in December and January.
Ann Ford, a director of operations at the CQC, said it had received concerns from staff, patients and families about safety and staffing levels at the two hospitals.
She said: 'During the inspection the concerns were substantiated, and this posed a significant risk to the safety of women, people using these services, and their babies as the staff shortages impacted on the timeliness of the care and support they received.'
Inspectors found dirty areas on the maternity wards of both hospitals, unsafe storage of medicines, a 'blame culture' that left staff unwilling to raise concerns, and short-staffed units.
On the neonatal wards, which care for the most vulnerable newborns, the CQC found they were understaffed and infants needing special care were being transported unsafely from one hospital to another.
A freedom of information request by the BBC revealed in January that the NHS trust had identified at least 56 baby deaths that may have been preventable from January 2019 to July 2024, made up of 27 stillbirths and 29 neonatal deaths, which are deaths within 28 days after birth.
In each case, a trust review group had identified care issues it considered may have made a difference to the outcome for babies.
Sir Julian Hartley, the head of the CQC, was the chief executive of Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust for 10 years until January 2023, meaning he was in charge when many of the preventable deaths took place.
The parents of a newborn girl who died after multiple failings at Leeds general infirmary in January 2020 questioned the CQC's ability to carry out an independent inspection, given Hartley's previous role. The regulator said it has 'robust policies in place to manage any conflict of interest'.
Prof Phil Wood, the chief executive of Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust, said: 'These reports have highlighted significant areas where we need to improve our maternity and neonatal services, and my priority is to make sure we urgently take action to deliver these improvements.'
He said the trust was improving whistleblowing procedures for staff and had recruited 55 midwives, leaving it 11 short of the national target.
Wood added: 'I want to reassure every family due to have their baby with us in Leeds and any new parents that we are absolutely committed to providing safe, compassionate care.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Huge UK supermarket chain launches its own £129 a month FAT JAB club with shoppers asking ‘is this a parody?'
SUPERMARKET chain Morrisons has opened its own £129-a-month fat jab club. Bosses claim the tirzepatide injections, also branded as Mounjaro, can help customers lose a fifth of their weight. 2 But unimpressed shoppers accused the Bradford-based chain of cashing in after selling fatty and sugary treats. Morrisons Clinic says: 'At-home, self-injectable pen designed to aid weight loss when injected once-weekly and used consistently. 'Our approach to weight-loss treatments is based on three core factors, designed with your long-term health as our priority. 'Our expert prescribing pharmacists are specially trained to review, consult and provide medications online. Your healthcare journey is in safe hands. 'Our services are delivered by a team of dedicated pharmacists, prescribers and clinicians.' Morrisons Clinic says the sign-up fee will rise to £159-a-month after the offer period. Shopper Dave Carter hit out: 'It's genius really. The store sells you unhealthy grub that gets you fat, then wants vast sums of money to get you thin.' Another added on social media: 'Is this a parody? One of the culprits, pushing highly-processed food, is offering a fat clinic?! 'How funny! Stuff your face with a six pack of donuts, a multipack of Walkers crisps, a few sausage rolls followed by a tub of Ben & Jerry's — and then for the privilege of parting with £129 you might lose weight! Oh my days.' Another customer said: 'This seems so unethical.' Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons A diet-conscious fan added: 'You can buy your fatty and sugary foods and then a magic jab to make the results go away.' Morrisons Clinic also offers a £26.99 treatment for premature ejaculation, with the assurance: 'Finish last, not first.' It also sells treatments for acne at £36.99, acid reflux at £17.99, erectile dysfunction at £13 and migraine at £15.99. Morrisons, which has more than 100 pharmacies across the UK, said its weight management medications were 'prescribed and dispensed responsibly'. 2
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Doctor concerned mother influenced daughter's cancer treatment, inquest hears
An NHS doctor has told an inquest into the death of 23-year-old Paloma Shemirani - who died months after refusing treatment for cancer - that she was concerned her mother could have influenced the decision. The Cambridge graduate refused chemotherapy after being diagnosed in December 2023, and died just seven months later in July - despite a doctor telling her she had an 80 per cent chance of survival if she underwent treatment. Paloma's brothers have spoken out publicly in recent weeks, accusing their mother Kate Shemirani of influencing Paloma into refusing treatment that could have saved her life. Kate is a former nurse who was struck off in 2021 for sharing anti-vaxx misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic. She has a large following across social media, where she shares anti-medicine conspiracy theories to millions of people online. Arunodaya Mohan, a consultant haematologist at Maidstone Hospital told the inquest on Friday at Oakwood House in Maidstone, Kent, that Kate had raised concerns with experts about the treatment plan seven months before Paloma's death. Dr Mohan met Paloma on December 22 2023 to set out the treatment plan after her diagnosis. She told the inquest she recommended steroids and a PET (positron emission tomography) scan, adding that Paloma 'nodded in agreement'. But soon after that, Paloma told Ms Mohan that she had not made her mind up about the treatment and wished to explore other options. Dr Mohan said that she spoke on the phone with Paloma's mother, saying that she expressed 'concerns' about the side-effects of steroids. Dr Mohan told the inquest: 'I didn't want to discuss with mum because I didn't think it would be helpful to her.' Alison Hewitt, counsel to the inquest, later asked: 'Were there concerns that Ms Shemirani was influencing Paloma?' Dr Mohan replied: 'That's right.' Paloma declined to have the treatment, and when Dr Mohan asked why, there did not seem to be a specific reason, the inquest heard. Ms Hewitt asked Dr Mohan if she questioned Paloma on whether her decision was influenced by anyone. Dr Mohan said: 'She was very confident that it was her own decision and she was not influenced.' Kate advocates for the use of 'natural medicine' to cure diseases, and credits alternative therapies for being cancer free after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, although her tumour was removed through surgery. It is these kinds of conspiracy theories that Paloma's brothers, Gabriel and Sebastian Shemirani, believe led their sister to refuse treatment for cancer. Kate and her husband Faramarz Shemirani have denied responsibility and claimed that 'Paloma died as a result of medical interventions' since her sons made the accusations, the BBC reported. 'My sister has passed away as a direct consequence of my mum's actions and beliefs,' Paloma's brother Sebastian told the BBC. 'And I don't want anyone else to go through the same pain or loss that I have." Paloma began suffering chest pains after she graduated from the University of Cambridge and was later diagnosed with cancers after doctors found a mass in her lung. She was told the cancer could be fatal if left untreated, but that she had an 80 per cent chance of recovery with treatment. Her mother then spent two days with her as an inpatient at Maidstone Hospital, which Paloma's boyfriend claimed could have influenced her decision to reject chemotherapy. Her brother, Gabriel, then began a legal case arguing that Paloma should have an assessment of the appropriate medical treatment for her. However, Paloma died before the case reached its conclusion in July 2024.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Fake Botox ‘poisoning cosmetic patients'
Thirty-eight people in the UK have been poisoned by fake Botox since last month, officials have revealed. Victims experienced difficulties with breathing and swallowing, as well as slurred speech, after suffering from botulism, a rare and life-threatening condition. The UK Healthcare Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a warning over the cases in the East of England and the East Midlands, following a spate of similar poisonings in the North East. To date, 38 cases of 'iatrogenic botulism' have been reported between 4 June and 14 July. The UKSHA said it was warning people to be aware of the symptoms after victims needed NHS care after suffering from adverse reactions. Evidence so far suggests that an 'unlicensed Botox-like product' had been used, the agency said. The practitioners involved have stopped offering the injections and are co-operating with an ongoing investigation, the UKSHA said. Officials said there were no known links between the newly diagnosed cases and those in the North East. Symptoms can take four weeks to develop The UKHSA has urged members of the public to make sure they take precautions when seeking aesthetic procedures, including checking if the product being used is licensed. Dr Gauri Godbole, a consultant medical microbiologist at the UKHSA, said: 'Botulism related to aesthetic procedures is rare, but it can be serious. It is caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. These toxins (but not the bacteria) are the active ingredient in 'Botox' and similar products. 'Symptoms of botulism can take up to four weeks to develop, and if you have had a recent botulinum toxin (Botox-like) treatment and are having symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or breathing, contact NHS 111 for further advice and seek treatment.'
