Leeds Teaching Hospitals struggle to recruit maternity chief after 'inadequate' CQC warning
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust has failed to recruit a top director to lead improvements in the care of women and babies.
The Trust, which is facing an independent inquiry into maternity care failings, said it was unsuccessful in hiring a director of midwifery.
The post, which pays up to £125,000 a year, was advertised at the end of October by the trust, which runs St James’s University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary.
A trust board report said: “We have been unsuccessful at the current time to appoint to the director of midwifery but have re-structured to strengthen senior leadership within the service.”
The job advert said the trust was seeking an “exceptional and visionary” senior midwife. It said: “This post will play a vital role in leading the improvement programme for maternity services.”
Last June, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated maternity services at the trust “inadequate” and ordered immediate improvements.
A further CQC report published in September looked at how well-led the organisation was.
That report called for improvements and said not having a permanent director of midwifery was among “notable gaps in senior leadership”.
Trust bosses said they had recruited an additional head of midwifery and would consider re-advertising the director post.
Deputy chief nurse Lorna Johnson said: “Two heads of midwifery will cover our two hospital sites of St James’s and LGI to ensure we provide high-quality, safe and compassionate care to families.”
The trust also said it was making improvements since the care of black and Asian women was criticised in a November NHS England report.
An equality and diversity review found new mums were left traumatised and staff faced bullying and discrimination.
The trust promised “cultural change” and launched an Inclusion and Belonging Plan.
Suzanne Dunkley, newly-appointed chief people officer, said: “We will do this by creating an inclusive environment for everyone who works with us, ensuring everyone feels heard, seen, valued and safe to raise concerns.
“While we are at an early stage in our inclusion journey, we’ve already made some great progress and will be committing to improvement at pace as we work together with colleagues across the trust.”