Maternity services below average (From Ealing Times)

Maternity services below average

7:24am Thursday 10th July 2008

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THE maternity unit at a local hospital has been rated among the worst in the country.

A report published today by health watchdog the Healthcare Commission rates Ealing Hospital's maternity unit among the "least well performing" in England.

It puts the unit in the bottom fifth of hospitals in the country for childbirth and antenatal services, after it scored 2.6 out of five, with three being an "acceptable" score.

The trust rates below average for 13 of the 25 performance factors, including a rating of just one out of five in four areas.

These are the average time between women first making contact with the hospital and getting an appointment, the information mothers are given about scans they have, how support staff are used, and delivery of antenatal care at the hospital.

However, the hospital does exceed government standards in areas including the number of mothers dying during childbirth, facilities for mothers with special needs, such as mental health problems and the number of staff.

Scores for hospitals are based on factors like the quality of clinical care, feedback from patients, types of services available and quality of facilities.

The statistics have been used by the watchdog in a report published today, which says hospitals nationally need to step up the level of service given to expectant mothers.

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