Record 65% of NHS maternity units are failing meet safety standards, report suggests

• Report says majority of NHS maternity are ‘inadequate’ or ‘require improvement’ 
• Care Quality Commission says 65% fail safety standards, up from 54% last year
• Regulator said one-in-ten were ‘inadequate’ compared to none last year 

A record number of NHS maternity services fail to meet safety standards, a report suggests.

Some 65 per cent of services are regarded as ‘inadequate’ or ‘require improvement’ for safety, up from 54 per cent last year, according to the Care Quality Commission.

And the number of ambulance services found to be in need of improvement on safety has doubled in a year – from 30 per cent to 60 per cent.

A record number of NHS maternity services fail to meet safety standards, the Care Quality Commission suggests

The number of ambulance services found to be in need of improvement on safety has also doubled in a year, from 30 per cent to 60 per cent

One in ten are rated as inadequate compared to zero last year, the care regulator said.

The CQC, which has inspected 73 per cent of acute hospital services, said: ‘The overarching picture is one of a service and staff under huge amounts of pressure.’

The report highlighted issues including maternity staffing levels that fall below the recommended number needed and ‘fragile’ cover rotas.

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