Mixed picture for NHS trust's maternity services

An NHS Trust has seen improvements in its maternity care but safety concerns still remain, a report has found.

Maternity wards at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as part of a national review into natal care.

The CQC rated Horton General Hospital in Banbury "good" overall but despite positive maternity services at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, it still "requires improvement" due to safety concerns which included delays to care.

OUH welcomed the improved ratings, praised staff, and said it was committed to urgently fixing the remaining areas of concern.

Safety concerns at the John Radcliffe focused on delays to care, staff shortages and weaknesses in oversight.

Inspectors found most women were not assessed within the recommended 15-minute timeframe, with some leaving before being seen.

Pressures on staffing meant some worked long hours and overnight cover was limited. Community midwives were asked to work overnight hospital shifts after full day shifts, sometimes exceeding 24 hours.

The report found bereaved women and those experiencing pregnancy loss were not always cared for in appropriate, private settings.

There were also concerns about under-reporting of incidents but despite this the report described care as compassionate and supportive.

Horton General Hospital's overall rating improved from "requires improvement" to "good", according the CQC report.

It found that leadership had significantly improved, with consistently compassionate care, and clear communication with patients.

It did however note that there were some ongoing safety concerns as the unit layout still prevents direct observation of waiting patients.

It found staff were not adequately monitoring women in the clinic area, as they did not identify that a woman had become unwell until another person raised the alarm.

Staff also failed to escalate or clearly document action when two women had early warning scores during labour that required immediate medical review, and leaders did not ensure records were complete, making it difficult to confirm women's safety.

Amanda Williams, CQC deputy director of hospitals, secondary and specialist care for the South-East, said the improvements at both hospitals were "encouraging".

She praised the staff at the sites and also acknowledged the "clear commitment to reducing inequalities across both services" noting outreach services for migrant women and specialist support for women with mental health needs.

Maternity services at OUH have faced intense scrutiny in recent years, with several campaign groups raising concerns about the quality of care.

In September 2025, the trust was named as one of 12 in England whose maternity services would be reviewed as part of a rapid national investigation.

OUH said it welcomed the CQC's improved "good" ratings for maternity services, praising staff for their role in the progress made.

The trust highlighted compassionate care, strengthened learning from incidents and efforts to tackle inequalities, while acknowledging that further improvements are needed.

Simon Crowther, interim chief executive officer, said it taks the findings "very seriously" and it has already begun work to address them.

He said: "We remain committed to driving further improvement and will continue to work closely with women, families, staff and partner organisations to deliver the safe, high quality care that our service users, families and communities deserve."

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