An investigation has unearthed a series of concerns at a hospital where four women in a year died during or soon after childbirth.
The Homerton hospital in Hackney asked NHS England’s London clinical senate to check whether there were links between the unexpectedly high number of maternal deaths.
It found common themes in some but not all the deaths, including delays in recognising patients were deteriorating, a breakdown in communication between staff and a lack of consultant involvement. The report’s findings were made public this week as it emerged that the Care Quality Commission watchdog had made two unannounced visits to the maternity department after the death of a fifth woman in January.
Homerton board members demanded assurances from doctors that the maternity unit was safe as they approved 15 recommendations to improve care.
Trust chairman Tim Melville-Ross said: “This issue is clearly one of real concern to us. We have to devote all of our efforts to learning lessons.” Homerton chief executive Tracey Fletcher said the investigation found that no “silver bullet” would have prevented the deaths.
Last year, the Standard revealed that Pat Williams, the first woman to die, in July 2013, had a number of “risk factors”, including obesity. A coroner ruled she died of natural causes after an elective Caesarean.
Adeline Keh, 40, who died in October 2013, was a Jehovah’s Witness who refused a blood transfusion after being transferred from the Homerton to Papworth hospital in Cambridge.
The third death was in March 2014 and the fourth in June. The fifth woman was apparently transferred from north-west London to the Homerton — where she was booked to give birth — rather than being taken to a nearer A&E.
Staff have been given extra training and consultant obstetrician cover on wards increased to 98 hours a week.
Via- standard.co.uk
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