Report of St Marys Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Dame Donna Ockenden was appointed to conduct an independent review of maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust. A report highlighting the initial findings was published in December 2020. Manchester Foundation Trust produced and completed an action plan in relation to its recommendations.

The second and final report into Dame Donna Ockenden’s review of maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust was published on 30 March 2022. It describes 15 Immediate and Essential Actions, which must be taken forward by all local maternity service providers. Manchester Foundation Trust describe their response to the final Ockenden Report.

The Committee considered the report and accompanying presentation submitted by St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust that described that Dame Donna Ockenden was appointed to conduct an independent review of maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust. A report highlighting the initial findings was published in December 2020. Manchester Foundation Trust produced and completed an action plan in relation to its recommendations.

The second and final report into Dame Donna Ockenden’s review of maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust was published on 30 March 2022. It described 15 Immediate and Essential Actions, which must be taken forward by all local maternity service providers. The report described Manchester Foundation Trust’s response to the final Ockenden Report.

Key points and themes in the report and presentation included:

·         Providing an introduction and context to the report;

·         Manchester Foundation Trust response to emerging findings from the first Ockenden report; and

·         Manchester Foundation Trust response to emerging findings from the final Ockenden report.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         What was being done to support pregnant female prisoners;

·         What was being done to support pregnant learning disabled citizens;

·         What was being done to support pregnant homeless citizens; and

·         What was being done to train, recruit and retain midwifery nurses.

The Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Saint Mary's Hospital stated that a dedicated midwife post had been established to specifically support HMP Styal. She described this post had been established in late 2021 and was beginning to be embedded, noting that this was recognised nationally as an example of good practice.

The Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Saint Mary's Hospital further commented that the Ockenden Report discussed the need to consider vulnerability in the wider context, improve access to services and remove barriers to service. She described that there was a specific Learning-Disabled Safeguarding Group that worked closely with the Manchester Local Care Organisation to address wider care needs of patients.

The Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Saint Mary's Hospital commented that Manchester was in a strong position in relation to nurse training and retention. She stated that they had established strong relationships with local education providers and had managed to establish a strong pathway to recruit student nurses from these providers, commenting that in addition to this Manchester benefited from being a vibrant city that attracted nursing graduates. In response to a specific question relating to the diversity of the work force she commented that this data was available and would be provided following the meeting, adding that Saint Mary's had a programme to promote and support BAME staff and there was a mechanism to ensure that the voice and views of BAME staff was heard at all levels of the organisation.

The Chair stated that she welcomed the report and would welcome a future update report at an appropriate time that described progress against the agreed actions. She further requested that this update report include comparative data and how Manchester compared to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. She further requested that the report include an update on advocacy and the voice of the women and families.

Decision

To note the report and request that an update report is provided for consideration at an appropriate time.