Maternity services at Derbyshire NHS trust rated inadequate by health watchdog

Maternity services at an NHS trust in Derbyshire have been rated inadequate by the health watchdog.

Inspectors found multiple issues across both the Royal Derby Hospital and the Queen’s Hospital in Burton-upon-Trent. The watchdog found inadequate leadership, maternity care staff faced with ‘overwhelming workloads’, and patients being put at risk of harm.

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust said in an open letter today that more staff had already been recruited and changes were being made to improve the delivery of care.