Agenda item

A representative from Pennine Acute will report at the meeting.  Report attached.

Members of the Committee considered a verbal presentation from Gill Harris, Chief Nurse Pennine Acute NHS Trust, in relation to the recently conducted external review of maternity services within the Trust.  The presentation contained the following information:

Following the appointment of the new Chief Executive a system was introduced whereby all serious untoward incidents were notified to the Chief Executive and Executive Directors within 24hours and discussed at senior management team on a weekly basis.

The report highlighted several incidents within maternity services.  The incidents were reviewed through the Trusts own root cause analysis.  The Trust commissioned an external review of nine incidents which had occurred in maternity services six neonatal and 3 maternal deaths.

In summary, the findings of the external review were:

·         The population of women cared for at Pennine Acute Trust is diverse and challenging and includes a significant number of high risk and vulnerable women.

·         There are clearly areas of good practice which are appropriately noted and acknowledged and which should be widely shared.

·         The three maternal deaths did not appear to be the result of deficiencies in care.

·         The serious incidents were thoroughly and comprehensively reviewed by the Trust and there was a clear, honest and open approach to identifying failings.

There were twelve recommendations made as a result of the review and a comprehensive improvement plan has been drawn up to address the issues raised.

The Chief Nurse expressed concern that a member of Trust staff had spoke to the Manchester Evening News in advance of publication of the report.  The Trust spoke to the families concerned in advance of publication, however acknowledge that liaison with the family members could have been better.

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:

In response to a Member’s question, the Chief Nurse reported that staff sickness and absence rates are high in the maternity department, it is envisaged that the recruitment of additional Healthcare Assistants will help to alleviate the problem.

With regards to staffing levels on the maternity wards; the Chief Nurse reported that there is an escalation process in place if the staffing numbers fall below what is required.  Previously staff in the maternity department have tended to try and solve any staffing problems within the department, the Trust are now asking managers to escalate any issues with staff to the senior management team.

The Chief Nurse acknowledged that there is still an over reliance within the Trust on agency staff.  The Trust still struggle to recruit nursing staff this is however a national issue; the Trust have recruited from oversees but there can be delays for up to 12 months in registering a member of oversees staff.

In response to a Member’s question, the Chief Nurse confirmed that Oldham is a specialist centre and provided 102 obstetric consultant cover every week.

It was agreed:

1.   The Joint Committee will write to the Secretary of State in relation to the proposed changes to the visa application process which will directly impact on the recruitment of nurses from oversees and the Pennine Acute NHS Trust.

The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Officer will circulate to members a copy of the Pennine Acute NHS Trust summary improvement plan