Ms Reading, the Head of Midwifery and Women’s Health, presented the report on the Picker Survey of Maternity Services in Tower Hamlets, which had been carried out in 2010.   This Survey was in contrast to a survey carried out in 2007, and showed definite improvements, and this report was being given 11 months after the Survey was carried out.

Improvements made included:

• Access to services, which needs to be as early as possible, this can be done online, by telephone or via the patient’s GP.  It was noted that 92% of patients did access the services early.  This meant that women could be put on the appropriate pathway for their individual needs.  It was noted that care offered by midwives and GPs was low risk
• The Services were working on normalising the experience of labour, and it was possible to offer 100% one to one care
• The Tower Hamlets Birth Centre had low take up in its first year with 200 births, but there were 400 births last year
• 81% of mothers rated their care as ‘excellent’ during pregnancy
• 85% of mothers rated their care as ‘excellent or good’ during labour
• 29% of mothers rated their postnatal care as ‘poor’

Councillor Pavitt commented that she had been active in the Community Health Council, and the quality of maternity services had been an issue.  This Survey compared well to the survey in 2007. 

Councillor Pavitt expressed concern at the number of women who felt they were not treated with kindness or not spoken to in a way they understood.  Ms Reading said that it had been noted that ‘kindness’ had not improved as much as the services would like, and work was being done to improve women’s experience.  Specifically, work was being done on improving the antenatal experience; the Talbot Ward was now there for women in early labour who did not want to go home.  Modernisation was taking place in the light of the local population.

Mr Rahi said that he remembered the 2007 report.  Midwives who trained in Tower Hamlets were now being recruited and staying, and the challenge was now to retain them in the borough.  Maternity support workers were being recruited locally.

Mr Burbidge said that the report reflects attitudes, and he wondered what patients expected of staff, and asked what use was being made of volunteers.  Ms Reading responded that the main focus of the report was on the attitude of the staff.  Attitudes have changed since 2007, patients are spoken to appropriately, dealt with quickly and efficiently.  Work was being done on a volunteer Doula scheme, when a volunteer would support a woman through labour. 

Women’s groups feed into maternity services.  There is a Women’s Information Group which provides information on what services are available and how to self-care.  There is also a Gateway Team who are experienced in working with vulnerable women.

Councillor Begum said that women should have the choice of home births, and Bangladeshi women like to have their babies at home.  However, there are not many Bangladeshi midwives.  There are many young people in Tower Hamlets, and the population is increasing; young people need to be recruited from schools.   Ms Reading said that women have advocates to ensure they get the choice of hospital/home births.

Councillor Uddin noted that there had been the smallest change in antenatal services, but women should be comfortable from the start of their pregnancy.  Ms Reading said that a huge amount of effort was made to ensure women accessed services early.  It was to be hoped that women’s experiences were better since the Survey.

The Chair noted that the process for testing for Down’s Syndrome and the cleanliness of premises were poor.  Mr Reading said there was an ongoing review and much effort made to improve these areas.

The Chair invited Dr Livingstone to comment from the floor: Dr Livingstone asked what were the areas of risk?  Health visitors  and continuity of primary care were important.  Services such as Gateway could increase risks, because of delays in referrals.  It would be better if patients used local services.