Polly has welcomed the news that the maternity unit at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate has been rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC inspected the service in December 2024 and found that the Trust had made ‘significant improvements’ since its last inspection in 2023.

The inspection team found that the women and babies were protected and kept safe; that the units were clean and well-maintained; that there were enough staff who were well-trained; and that the units had a good learning culture, where people could raise concerns. It also found that the outdated hospital buildings meant some clinical areas and labour rooms in both units are too small and lack en suite facilities, compromising the care staff are able to give, and that there is currently only one obstetric theatre at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital. It therefore rated the units as ‘requires improvement’ for ‘safe’.

The Trust has been given £1.8m to progress a business case for the development of the maternity unit at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, which will increase the size of labour rooms and provide a second obstetric theatre for caesarean sections. It will also extend the maternity triage area in the next phase of refurbishment at William Harvey Hospital.

Speaking in parliament – which you can watch by clicking here – Polly said:

My Right Honourable Friend will be aware that mums and babies have been badly failed in the past by maternity services at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in my constituency. I am sure she will share my delight that the unit has now been rated “good” by the Care Quality Commission. That improvement is testament to the hard work that has been put in by hospital management and staff to turn things round. Will she join me in welcoming the £1.8 million for additional improvements in the maternity unit, and share my rising confidence that QEQM has turned a corner — though I will keep a close eye on it, to ensure that we see further improvements in care for new mums and babies in Thanet.