Hospital midwives at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford were found to be working consecutive shifts without adequate rest, staying awake for more than 24 hours, according to a recent investigation by the NHS inspector. The review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) also highlighted issues with triaging pregnant women promptly and reporting delays in labor induction at the hospital.

The report revealed that during busy periods, community staff were reassigned to cover overnight hospital shifts, leading to prolonged work hours without breaks. This practice resulted in staff members being sleep-deprived, affecting their well-being and potentially compromising patient safety due to the increased risk of errors caused by fatigue.

An upcoming national investigation into NHS maternity care, led by Baroness Valerie Amos, will address concerns raised in the CQC report, including the underreporting of labor induction delays as incidents. Despite improvements noted in the overall maternity services, the safety of maternity services at John Radcliffe Hospital was rated as needing improvement.

Following the investigation, the hospital trust committed to discontinuing exhausting shift patterns and ensuring that midwives receive compensatory rest after overnight shifts. The interim chief executive officer, Simon Crowther, emphasized the trust’s dedication to making necessary changes promptly and working collaboratively with stakeholders to provide safe and high-quality care for patients and families.