A recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection has rated Bradford Royal Infirmary's neonatal unit as 'outstanding'. Maternity services were re-rated as 'requiring improvement'. The rating comes against a backdrop of serious concerns about how the trust handled investigations into baby deaths and a major leadership crisis.
Investigation delays and resignations
In October 2023, Dr Max McLean resigned as chairman of Bradford Teaching Hospitals, citing a 'cover-up' of failures in investigating three serious neonatal incidents from 2021. During a 12-day period, two babies died and a third was left with long-term disability following a bacterial outbreak.
Dr McLean highlighted that while NHS England requires such investigations to be completed within 60 days, Bradford took 14 months to conclude its review. '14 months before families could get answers. And 14 months while new parents were coming into our maternity service and wondering "is it safe in here?'" he said.
The 2021 tragedy
The incidents centered around an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in November 2021. The bacteria proved resistant to gentamicin, the standard antibiotic treatment. A third infant had died earlier that year from complications related to a different strain of the bacteria.
Current status
Recent CQC inspectors found the neonatal services demonstrated outstanding levels of care and leadership. However, maternity services were rated as requiring improvement overall. The trust has implemented new infection prevention measures and increased staffing levels, while providing enhanced training for staff. Despite these improvements, the CQC continues to receive whistleblowing concerns from staff and patients.
Governance concerns
The situation has revealed significant oversight issues at the trust. Dr McLean raised nine serious concerns about patient safety before his resignation. He specifically alleged failures in reporting critical incidents to the board, leading to NHS England taking enforcement action over governance issues. Serious questions remain about leadership transparency and the handling of safety concerns.
Trust response
The trust maintains that an independent review found no breach of standards by CEO Mel Pickup, who continues to have board support. The neonatal team has emphasized that 'rapid learning was shared at the time of the incidents' and that they have 'robust processes in place to ensure care is of a very high standard.'
What this means for patients
Parents considering or currently receiving care at Bradford should be aware that new safety measures have been implemented across neonatal and maternity services. Multiple regulatory bodies are now actively monitoring the trust's performance. The trust has established support services for families with concerns about past care, and independent channels exist for raising current concerns. The hospital has specifically invited families to discuss any concerns about their baby's care through their Patient Advice and Liaison Service.
