A report on maternity care in Hillingdon

As a result of Ealing Hospital Maternity Unit closing in July 2015, an estimate of 600 more women were going to deliver at Hillingdon Hospital. This report highlights the potential effect that the closure had on the quality of care received. It also aimed to investigate any possible inequalities that may have arisen owing to the re-configuration.

Healthwatch Hillingdon spoke to 198 women from Hillingdon and 53 from Ealing, who had currently used the hospital’s maternity services and women who had given birth since the changes. Three focus groups to get feedback from women within various BME communities were conducted, along with semi-structured discussions and online surveys and talking to maternity staff as well as Children Centre Staff, families and spouses.

HW congratulated the Hillingdon Hospital Maternity department on the results of these engagements, as the evidence clearly showed that the maternity department was providing an excellent service. From the supportive and empathetic care given to women and their families throughout their maternity pathway to their excellent skin- to- skin rates. HW felt that generally, the maternity department had effectively adjusted to the changes made by the ‘Shaping a Healthier Future’ reconfiguration. They managed the transition well and feedback showed the care of women had not been negatively impacted during this period. Women reported that they really valued the services and support provided to them and their families through children centres too, especially the sympathetic support and help them with breast feeding.

Even though it was recognised that not all women have received excellent care, and some had not felt fully supported during the pregnancy, the evidence showed that the closure of Ealing‘s maternity unit had definitely impacted negatively upon their personal experience.

Listening to women’s suggestions on what they would like to see change and done differently, HW identified 8 recommendations, to better and improve the experiences of women and their families.

- To review how information is given, so in addition to receiving printed literature, women should be provided with more verbal information.

- A review undertaken of interpreting services to support women who do not speak English, to meet Clinical Maternity Standards.

- To review the continuity of care between women and their health professionals to meet the expectations of The National Maternity Review.

- To review the referral process between the hospital and Borough of Hillingdon who provide smoking cessation service.

- The hospital considers introducing a pager system in the antenatal department to allow women the choice of waiting elsewhere during their appointments.

- To review of the referral pathway for Ealing residents to the Ealing perinatal mental health service; and for the Hillingdon CCG to review the perinatal mental health service in Hillingdon to see how future provision can be met.

- Greater informed choice be given to women concerning where they can deliver their babies.

- Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group work with The Shaping a Healthier Future team and Hillingdon Hospital to review the provision of antenatal and postnatal clinics in Ealing.