BASINGSTOKE’S maternity unit has been told to make improvements after whistleblowers raised fears that midwives were too exhausted to keep patients safe because of low staffing levels.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has dropped the rating for maternity services at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from good to requires improvement.

Inspectors made an unannounced visit to the maternity unit in November after concerns were raised by staff whistleblowers as well as complaints were made by patients.

You can read the full story in this week’s edition of The Gazette. Also in this week's paper:

  • Tributes are paid to an ‘honourable’ veteran who spent more than 20 years selling poppies in Basingstoke has died
  • A golf course in Tadley has been put on the market a month after the owners withdrew an outline application for 90 affordable homes outside the playing area
  • Permanent repair work has been carried out on a road after a resident became increasingly concerned about its dangerous condition, we spoke to her to find out her reaction
  • A pretzel kiosk in Basingstoke that has been open for more than 10 years has been forced to shut down as its owner said the landlord is “refusing to give him a deal”
  • A board game café has been opened in Basingstoke by a group of friends.
  • A campaign group has declared victory after the destruction of historic oak trees has been halted
  • A petition to protect the North Hampshire Downs from future building developments has gained nearly 10,000 signatures. We spoke to the chairman of the group behind it
  • Basingstoke’s MP has aired disappointment after a full report into alleged parties at Downing Street was not published
  • PLUS: All the latest from Basingstoke Magistrates' Court
  • Two pages of your letters to the editor
  • Pictures: 3,500 trees planted in Dummer
  • Two pages of news from our communities.
  • An eight-page puzzle special
  • Two pages of business news
  • Three pages of entertainment news
  • Four pages of sports news. And much more

READ MORE: Resident born with rare condition hopes to increase disabled representation in politics

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Kimberley Barber

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