CQC inspectors return today to visit Maternity and Children’s Services

September 11, 2018

Dear colleague,

Today we welcome inspectors from the CQC to our Children’s Services and Maternity.

Thank you to all colleagues who have already welcomed the CQC inspectors to the Trust, and attended focus groups to share your experiences with the CQC and celebrate the quality of care we deliver. Many colleagues have talked to the CQC about their worries, and solutions, and reflected with colleagues on the improvements we are making, for example of medicine consistency of care and in BMEC.

The inspection team are doing unannounced visits today and this week on both Sandwell and City sites, to inspect our children’s, maternity and neonates services. This will include all services we offer to children including BMEC, remembering that 1 in 6 of our patients is a child. That means that they will be with us, night and day. I know that you will welcome the inspectors and help them, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and making sure practices like bare-below-elbow standards are observed, by all of us, and by our CQC visitors.

We all know the NHS is working under sustained pressure. We spent over £1m on training last year and will do the same this year. We have invested in extra staffing, got decent modern imaging kit with our MES, achieved baby friendly accreditation and created child friendly environments in our ward and waiting areas (remember the Shetland pony visits and children driving cars to procedure rooms). We have every reason to compare well to others. Let’s stand up for our successes and show our best side, whilst being open about what’s left to do and fix.

The attached staff guide to inspections (PDF) provides some helpful information, please share with colleagues.

I wish you luck in the coming days as you share your experiences with the CQC whilst continuing to deliver fantastic care to our patients. Thank you for your continued hard work and passion for great quality care.

Best wishes

Raffaela Goodby, Executive Director of People & Organisation Development

(acting Chief Executive whilst Toby Lewis is on leave)