Worthing Hospital's maternity services improve but challenges remain
The unit has been upgraded to 'good' having been previously rated as 'requires improvement'
The maternity department of Worthing Hospital has been upgraded from requires improvement to good by the watchdog.
The inspection assessed several key aspects of the maternity services offered by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
According to Care Quality Commission (CQC), while improvements were found, some regulatory breaches relating to safe care and departmental management persisted.
The overall rating for Worthing Hospital remains 'requires improvement.'
Amanda Williams, the CQC deputy director of hospitals, secondary and specialist care in Sussex, noted staff dedication, saying they worked hard to support women throughout their pregnancy journey.
The service was praised for offering specialist midwives for mental health, bereavement, and safeguarding, as well as 24/7 emergency mental health support.
Efforts to improve service culture were recognized, as staff now feel safe raising concerns due to an independent freedom to speak up guardian.
Close work with the local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership ensured that women's voices shaped care delivery, achieving consistently positive feedback.
However, areas requiring improvement were identified.
These include updating policies and the audit program, as there is only one obstetric theatre for emergency caesarean sections despite national guidelines requiring two.
Inspectors found that staff ensured safe care with initiatives like maternity nurses easing midwifery pressure, daily huddles, and structured handovers.
There was a dedicated bereavement suite for families experiencing infant loss, including specialist equipment.
However, issues were found in policy reviews and ligature risks, potentially leading to outdated care practices.
The hospital was requested to provide an action plan for ongoing concerns, and the CQC will continue monitoring to ensure the safety and effectiveness of care.
Worthing Hospital respond to the CQC Inspection
Dr Tim Taylor, chief of service for the Women and Children’s division at the Trust, said:
“We welcome the CQC’s recognition of the improvements made to maternity services at Worthing Hospital. We know we have made great strides to improve maternity services in recent years, but it is really encouraging to have that improvement recognised by the CQC as well.
“We never lose sight of the utter devastation that families face if a baby is lost, and so the work to improve is never over – we must keep trying to be better.
“We are committed to building on the progress made at Worthing, and to listening to families, including through our work with the Sussex National Maternity Voices Partnership. We need to ensure future improvements are shaped around the needs of the people who use our services.”