Nottingham University Hospitals has set a new deadline to clear a backlog of serious incident investigations on cases within its maternity services after missing a date in December. The trust, which runs services at Nottingham City Hospital and the Queen’s Medical Centre, missed the December 23 date it set itself to complete the work.
The trust only managed to clear some of its older incidents last year, and since then new cases have been added, bringing the current total to 68. A new deadline to clear older cases has now been set for the end of March – an aim that “continues to be challenging but remains a firm commitment”, according to trust board papers.
In the NHS ‘Serious Incidents’ or ‘SIs’ are unexpected or unintended events that could cause patients harm. Maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust have previously been declared ‘inadequate’ by health watchdogs.
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The Government has appointed an independent review team led by Donna Ockenden to investigate the trust’s maternity services following a campaign by bereaved families. The issue of a delay in finishing outstanding SI reports was discussed at the trust’s board meeting on January 26.
Director of Midwifery Sharon Wallis said serious incidents are a “top priority at the minute”. Board papers state that during November and December 2022 there were seven new Serious Incidents (SI) declared in Maternity Services, bringing the total to 68 ongoing cases as of January 18.
A total of 41 of these Serious Incident investigations are expected to be complete by March. She told the board: “We have the review of our cases that haven’t been progressed at pace.
“At the minute we have 10 cases we are reviewing where they are partially though the process or awaiting assignment. We are committed to getting those cases done by March, we will throw every resource we have at that.
“It is a work in progress. We have seen a reduction in Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) cases, the most serious incidents, which is really good to see.”
Papers to the board state: “The work to improve our management of serious incidents continues to be a high priority. This includes ensuring there is a focus on learning and improvement.”
Professor John Atherton, non executive director, said: “I am really pleased about your commitment to getting those done by the end of March. There is a bit of a risk around that, 10 have now been moved to different investigators for different reasons, but they are partly done anyway.”
Board papers add that the Director of Midwifery is in the process of contacting all families to update them on the current status of their investigation and offer an apology for any delays. The “biggest risk” in maternity services remains staffing, the board papers state.
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