A WINCHESTER hospital at the centre of an investigation into the deaths of two young mothers from the same blood infection just days after giving birth to healthy babies, has the lowest rating possible for staffing levels, according to the most comprehensive ever national review of maternity services. The Royal Hampshire County Hospital scored one out of five possible points for its staffing levels in the Healthcare Commission's first benchmarking review of maternity services, published last week. The publication of the figures comes a month after the deaths of 39-year-old Amy Kimmance and 29- year-old Jasmine Pickett, who died within a day of each other after being infected with the Group A streptococcal infection. The trust is still investigating exactly how and why the women died, but so far the hospital has said that 'the maternity unit is unlikely to have been the source of these infections'. Overall, the hospital, which is run by Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, was given a 'fair performing' assessment, the third lowest grade out of four ranging from best, better to fair and least well performing. The findings were based on 25 clinical indicators under three themes – clinical focus, women-centred care, and efficiency and capability. The hospital only narrowly missed falling into the 'better performing' category, and Janie Pearman, head of midwifery at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, said that staffing levels are improving with the recruitment of midwives and an obstetrician "We know that we are on course to a higher rating next time. The Healthcare Commission rating is already quite historic – it refers to 2006. The department has gone from strength to strength since and is now well within the 'better performing' category. However, why stop at 'better' –we're aiming for 'best'!" Continuity and choice of antenatal care was given top marks, choice in delivery, judging the length of stay for a woman, safety and cleanliness and staff experience and training, were all marked at four. "The fact that we got four out of five for staff training and the importance we place on safety is also very reassuring. The quality of our staff is not an issue here, although the quantity has been a challenge. However, I'm pleased to say that we are recruiting another seven trained midwives," said Ms Pearman. "On the areas where we did less well, action has already been taken, so if the same survey was done today, the result would be much better." The hospital has also launched its own in-house survey, to be reviewed every three months, enabling continuous improvements. Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, was also 'fair performing', and like Winchester achieved the lowest staffing level rating. The extent to which staff are trained in core maternity skills was also described as poor. So too was the involvement of obstetricians and midwives in antenatal care. However, the hospital's teamwork and supervision, the choices it gives for labour and its facilities and cleanliness, were awarded four points. Divisional director and consultant obstetrician Claire Iffland said: "We have already addressed most of the areas where we scored lower than average. As an example, in the last year, the maternity unit has employed an additional 14 midwives to support our growing birth rate." "We are also working closely with Hampshire PCT to establish a maternity services liaison committee which will include users of our maternity services. "We would like to hear from anyone who has used our service and would like to get involved. We are also looking at ways of providing care in labour by midwives who women have already got to know." In the South Central Maternity Services results only one NHS Trust, the Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust, reached the highest level to be rated as 'best performing'.
