PARENTS reacted with shock to the news that Basingstoke hospital’s maternity department has been told to improve by the Care Quality Commission.

The damning report which highlighted various concerns, including that there were not enough staff to keep mothers and their babies safe, came following an unannounced visit by the health watchdog in November, after patients, whistle-blowers, and regulatory bodies raised concerns.

The news came after parents had raised concerns with the Gazette about the maternity hospital, with many saying staff shortages had results in poor care and errors being made.

READ MORE: Basingstoke hospital maternity unit told to improve by CQC

Genevieve Baldwin, whose daughter was stillborn at Basingstoke hospital in 2013, said it was “heart-breaking” to read the findings.

The mum added: “Seems like nothing has changed despite promising lessons would be learnt after her death.”

Nikki Mitchell said the CQC visited on the day her daughter was born.

She said: “I would say they are very understaffed (exacerbated in Covid times) and trying their best in a completely broken system. The issue goes deeper than the midwives.”

Jade Royal urged people not to blame the midwives, after being cared for by the hospital last week for sepsis – something the maternity unit was criticised for by the CQC with regards to its handling of the condition.

She said: “You could see the staff were struggling to keep up but they all did their best and treated all of us patients with kindness and care. They are having to work in horrible conditions after two years of awful circumstances.

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“The fact equipment has failed safety checks is concerning but the nurses are being stretched beyond coping abilities and clearly they need help and support not shaming for going above and beyond what they signed up to do.”

Nathan Jones, a dad from Basingstoke, said: “It’s not good enough. The start to a baby’s life is the most important not just for that child but for the parents.”

Tracey Butler said she was pleased the issues had been taken to the CQC, adding: “Staff have been complaining to the management gods for a really long time and their genuine concerns have always fallen on deaf ears.

“The staff in the Sherborne building have always done the very best they could in what is difficult standards. Unfortunately, Covid can’t be entirely blamed for this.”

Midwife Elsie Gayle, who is part of the March With Midwives campaign which organised vigils last November to call for change to maternity services in the UK, said the picture in Basingstoke is similar to that seen nationally.

She added: “It is part of the national picture, exacerbated because of the pandemic. There’s been a shortage of midwives for some years and then the pandemic has brought it to this crisis level.

"I’m sure they [midwives] are in distress. Their work life balance is terrible.”

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Kimberley Barber