The Care Quality Commission’s recent inspection of the Horton’s maternity unit is extremely disappointing, not least because the hospital’s overall rating has also now moved to “Requires Improvement”. Like so many Banbury residents, I was born at the Horton and many generations of my family have relied on it over the years.
The findings of the report must be taken seriously. It is critical that the maternity service provides the best possible care to expectant mothers. The CQC does recognise that the unit has a safe staffing level and that there is good leadership in place. It also makes some positive observations about the range of maternity services at the Horton and work done by staff to tackle health inequalities in the local community. However, it is clear that important improvements do need to be made to processes, practices and procedures. Having spoken to the Trust earlier this week, I have been told that some action has already been taken since the inspection took place in October 2023.
I will be meeting the CQC in the coming weeks to discuss their findings in further detail. In the meantime, I am reassured that they will keep a close eye on the unit in the months to come. I will also continue to remind the Trust that they need to do all they can to make sure the Horton’s maternity service is fit for purpose. Expectant mothers must be confident in where they choose to have their babies.
