'Most challenging' maternity ward propped up by poles

A leaky antenatal ward propped up by metal poles has been named as the "most challenging" estate in a damning report on UK maternity services.

The rapid review by Baroness Valerie Amos also found "significant emotional distress" among staff at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, which was more than any other trust the team visited.

Staff reported they were often in tears due to missing breaks or being unable to use the loo, adding patients often felt ignored due to stretched workloads.

Dr Melanie Iles, chief medical officer for the hospital, said while they have made improvements, she acknowledged there was still more work to do to protect patients and staff.

The report highlighted a number of structural issues and concluded the estate was "old and not designed to deliver 21st-Century care".

"There were leaking roofs, poor temperature control with rooms often too hot or too cold," the Amos report stated.

The review also said the maternity service was cramped, and poor weather often meant some spaces were removed due to leaks.

One staff member told inspectors they include the weather report in their handover on the labour ward because they "have to be ready for heavy rain" due to the numerous leaks.

In response to the findings at Musgrove, Dr Iles said the report is "quite shocking and distressing for us all to read".

"We welcomed being part of the Amos review and we have all entered into that openly and transparently. We really want to get it right for women and their families.

"We know we haven't always got it right in the past and really that report has summarised the poor experiences that women have had... that isn't acceptable, that's not what we want," she added.

Talking about the buildings, Dr Iles said: "We're part of the New Hospital Programme but unfortunately at the moment that's been delayed to 2033.

"We're working hard with the regional and national NHS England teams to see whether something more can be done sooner than that."

She added she felt "terrible" about the experience of some staff being distressed and upset, and the team would work to support those staff more.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We've put the Musgrove Park project on a realistic and deliverable footing, and it will be delivered as part of the government's long-term plan to rebuild and modernise NHS infrastructure."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.