Plans have been lodged to carry out \u201ccritical\u201d works to a maternity unit branded \u201cnot fit for purpose\u201d.<\/p>\n
East Kent Hospitals (EKH) will invest \u00a31.8 million into the facility at the QEQM in Margate, which came under scrutiny during an inquiry into baby deaths.<\/p>\n
How the upgraded maternity unit at QEQM could look. Picture: East Kent Hospitals Trust<\/p>\n
It comes after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlighted concerns over outdated buildings at the site – some of which were constructed in the 1960s.<\/p>\n
Inspectors said some clinical areas and labour rooms are too small and lack en-suite facilities, compromising the care staff are able to give. There is also currently only one obstetric theatre.<\/p>\n
The trust\u2019s maternity services have hit headlines for several years, sparking the Kirkup Report – led by Dr Bill Kirkup – which evaluated 202 baby deaths dating back to 2009.<\/p>\n
His report in October 2022 found 45 fatalities across the trust\u2019s maternity units at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the QEQM were avoidable.<\/p>\n
It concluded that if care had been given to nationally recognised standards, the outcome could have been different in 97 of the cases reviewed.<\/p>\n
Dr Bill Kirkup (pictured) led the investigation into EKH\u2019s maternity issues. Picture: Barry Goodwin.<\/p>\n
Trust bosses have now confirmed they want to extend and revamp the site to help offer \u201cclinical spaces fit for 21st-century healthcare provision\u201d.<\/p>\n
In planning papers submitted to Thanet District Council, EKH says: \u201cThe maternity unit at QEQM is currently housed within some of the poorest estate across the trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current delivery suite is not fit for purpose. Rooms are unable to accommodate the full range of essential equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe need for this extension and its infrastructure is critical to the trust to provide continuing quality maternity care in east Kent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Work will include the building of two obstetrics theatres with support facilities, three recovery bed bays adjacent to the theatre and a bereavement suite within the three-storey extension.<\/p>\n
The QEQM Hospital in Margate will receive \u00a31.8 million to upgrade its maternity unit<\/p>\n
Existing delivery rooms will be remodelled and enlarged to meet regulations, while the special care baby unit is to be relocated within the proposed extension, with the existing space to be turned into offices and training facilities.<\/p>\n
A new 76-space staff car park will also be built.<\/p>\n
EKH is among 14 trusts in England set to be examined as part of a new national investigation into maternity and neonatal failures across the NHS.<\/p>\n
It comes after various independent reviews across multiple trusts found women\u2019s voices being ignored, safety concerns being overlooked and poor leadership creating toxic cultures.<\/p>\n
In May, it was revealed EKH\u2019s maternity units had made \u201csignificant improvements\u201d since receiving the worst possible rating from inspectors.<\/p>\n