- Midwives at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, specifically John Radcliffe Hospital, were instructed to work double shifts without sleep, resulting in some healthcare professionals being awake for over 24 hours, according to a new Care Quality Commission (CQC) report.
- The CQC found that community midwives were redeployed to cover hospital shifts overnight, leading to 'extended periods without rest' and posing a risk to patient safety due to fatigue-induced mistakes.
- Inspectors highlighted that the hospital failed to triage pregnant women within the nationally recommended 15-minute timeframe, with only 36 per cent assessed on time, and inaccurately reported delays to induction of labour, recording only 32 incidents despite 206 'red flags'.
- Furthermore, leaders at the hospital did not ensure adequate staffing and capacity, which resulted in bereaved women being cared for in environments that lacked the required standards for privacy and dignity.
- Despite these significant concerns, the CQC rated the overall maternity unit at John Radcliffe and Horton General Hospital as 'good', an improvement from 'requires improvement', though safety at John Radcliffe's maternity services specifically remained rated as 'requires improvement'.
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