NHSE director demands maternity consultants work nights

The deputy chair of NHS England has said it should be as ‘demanding’ of medical cover in obstetrics and neonatal care as it is for emergency departments, to improve safety in the wake of repeated care scandals.

Sir Andrew Morris, who was the long-serving chief executive officer of the well-regarded Frimley Health Foundation Trust, said the service would “expect a consultant to be on duty in an emergency department [from] 8am till 10pm, or midnight, seven days a week”.

Speaking at NHS England’s public board meeting yesterday, Sir Andrew said: “We haven’t set that similar expectation out for [maternity care]. I know we’re saying we’re expecting that two ward rounds are undertaken, each day, seven days a week, but that is very different to the service I think is appropriate for this type of semi-emergency operation, that most trusts run.

“I’d like us to be as demanding of organisations [in relation to obstetrics and neonatal] as we are for the emergency department.”

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Source: HSJ, 1 December 2022