- NHS hospital
William Harvey Hospital
Report from 10 October 2024 assessment
Ratings - Maternity
Our view of the service
East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (EKUFT) is 1 of the largest hospital trusts in England, with 5 hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 695,000 people. The trust provides local services primarily for the people living in Kent.
The William Harvey Hospital (WHH) is 1 of 5 hospitals that form part of EKUFT and has another acute hospital with inpatient maternity services called the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital. Approximately 3,600 babies are born every year at WHH.
We inspected maternity services at WHH to determine if they had made improvements since our last inspection in January 2023. We found that the trust had made significant improvements and were no longer in breach of any legal regulations. However, the estate and environment did not effectively meet the needs of women and families, and did not follow national guidance. Leaders had done their best to improve the environment but were limited in what they could achieve. The estate was built in 1977 and needed significant funding to ensure it was fit for purpose, and families received care in a suitable environment that protected their psychological safety.
The overall capacity did not adequately support the activity. The geography and limitations meant it was not always possible for staff to support care that was compassionate and dignified. Restricted space and facilities (particularly in labour/birth rooms) compromised women’s experience and dignity and meant staff were often working within conditions that created additional pressure.
We refer to women in this report, but we recognise that some transgender men, non-binary women and women with variations in sex characteristics or who are intersex may also use services and experience some of the same issues
People's experience of this service
Women and families that we spoke with were positive about the staff and the care they had received. They told us staff treated them with kindness and considered their privacy and dignity. They felt listened to and did not feel anxious about raising concerns.