The review which took place between October and December 2015 was commissioned from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) by NHS Dorset CCG at the request of the local acute hospitals to provide an independent view of health services for mothers and children living in and around the county, at the same time reviewing two potential models of care previously identified by NHS Dorset CCG and local healthcare partners.
The review team comprised medical nursing and midwifery expertise and a user representative. They conducted a number of fact-finding meetings with staff patients and families as well as looking at evidence of how services were doing and whether they complied with safety and service standards.
The team has identified many good working practices across the county, with a highly committed workforce which is providing excellent care in many areas. There are however also a number of challenges including resourcing, recruitment of staff and current facilities.
The report also explores a number of recommendations to ensure services remain sustainable and safe in the future. These include hospitals working closer together for the benefit of local children and parents – and increasing normal births and midwifery led care.
Dr Karen Kirkham, Deputy Clinical Chair NHS Dorset CCG said “This independent review of children’s healthcare across the county gives us comprehensive detail of what we currently have in place and explores a number of recommendations for how we could make things better for children and their families.
“Whilst throughout Dorset we have a highly committed and dedicated workforce, in common with the rest of the NHS nationally local services face significant challenges in the future. If we are to continue to provide high quality sustainable services for local mothers and their children we need to have a true understanding of the current picture and an honest and open conversation about how things can be improved.
We now need to reflect on this report, and will continue to work with the hospitals and families they support to ensure that we carefully plan for these services and the workforce needed to deliver them.
The report and supporting summary document are both available via here.
For more about the ambitious plans to improve healthcare in Dorset and the independent review of local children’s care visit www.dorsetsvision.nhs.uk.
Dr John Trounce, consultant Paediatrician from Brighton and leader of the Review team said
“It has been a privilege to work with the CCG and so many enthusiastic and dedicated clinicians across Dorset to help them plan ahead for the benefit of patients. Nationally maternity and children`s services are changing with the advent of new treatments, better evidence and clear standards about what works best for children and expectant parents both for routine care and in emergencies. Our review focusses on the importance of safe care as close to home as possible and the practical implications of national changes to staffing over the next 5-10 years in order to design a high quality and safe service that takes into account the needs of Dorset`s people”.
Further information
The organisations contributing to the review were
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
- Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA)
- Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
- Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
Between October and December 2015 the RCPCH visited the following Trusts
· Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Dorchester)
· Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
· The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
· Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The invited review will form part of the ongoing Clinical Services Review.
