Enter and View: Kettering General Hospital Maternity
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Healthwatch North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire’s aim with this Enter and View was to evaluated services being provided within Kettering General Hospital, which included visits to the Screening Unit, the Delivery Suite, Rowan Ward and the Snowdrop Garden.
The visit took place on 2 May 2023. The approach used in the assessment was a method known as the ’15 Steps Challenge’. This method is an audit toolkit developed by the NHS in 2012 that is used to look at quality of services from a service user perspective. It has a focus on whether a service is: welcoming, safe, caring and involving, and well-organised and calm.
The report identifies two key things to address.
- Staff shortages can at times cause delays in labour induction. It is important to have open and honest conversations with expecting mothers who may be affected by this delay.
- There are issues with parking. The first arranged visit had to be rescheduled because the volunteers were unable to find somewhere to park. This is a barrier for patients and visitors and may be seen in patients not showing up for scheduled appointments, contributing to wasted resources and time.