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CQC promises ongoing monitoring of Marie Stopes governance concerns

The CQC has said it will continue monitoring the governance processes at reproductive health charity Marie Stopes, after the organisation temporarily suspended some of its abortion services in the summer.

Following inspections by the regulator on 28 July and 8 August, the charity voluntarily suspended abortions for underage and vulnerable patients, abortions under general anaesthetic or conscious sedation, and all surgical terminations at its Norwich centre.

At the time, the CQC argued that the charity had breached its regulations relating to consent, safeguarding, the care and treatment of patients and governance processes.

Professor Edward Baker, deputy chief inspector of hospitals at the CQC, said: “On the ground, we found that feedback from patients was positive across Marie Stopes International's centres and its staff provided a non-judgmental service and treated patients with dignity and respect.

“However, our concerns at a corporate level – particularly around governance arrangements, staff training, and around patient safety and safeguarding protocols – did not give us the necessary assurance that patients would be protected from avoidable harm at all times, that possible safeguarding concerns could be identified and that incidents could be reported and learned from.”

After it had satisfied the CQC it had addressed the main concerns in four warning notices, including in staff training around the areas identified, Marie Stopes began restoring services from 7 October.

However, Professor Baker said the CQC would “continue to monitor its services very closely” to make sure that the improvements were embedded, and would “not hesitate” to make further changes.

According to the regulator, the charity had been failing to fulfil its duty under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to ensure that the senior team were fit and proper persons to manage the service. Marie Stopes also did not routinely check staff’s professional registration, and competence monitoring was “ad hoc”.

The CQC noted that some staff were also carrying out ultrasound scanning without accredited training; consent and safeguarding procedures did not follow national guidance; staff were not trained in issues such as female genital mutilation or child sexual exploitation, or ensuring that vulnerable patients had a good understanding of patients; and there was no consistent process for counselling children and young people.

Additionally, there was no adequate system for reporting and learning from incidents. Serious concerns had been raised about the Norwich centre, including a faulty alarm on the anaesthetic machine, as early as February, but services were not suspended until after the CQC inspection.

Suzanne Ash, interim managing director at Marie Stopes UK, said: “We have worked hard with the CQC to regain compliance and we’re grateful to them for their assistance.

“Since the inspections, we’ve made considerable changes to our management, governance and assurance processes, including extensive training of staff and updating of policies. We have learned from this, and intend to continue our focus on providing the safe and compassionate care that women expect and deserve.” 

Fine for private hospital which carried out abortion

Separately, the CQC announced that it had fined Chase Lodge Health Limited £4,000 after it carried out an abortion at the Chase Lodge private hospital in North London in September 2015 despite not being authorised to do so.

It is an offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to carry out a regulated activity such as abortion without being registered with the CQC.

Professor Baker added: “The law requiring private hospitals to register with the CQC for each type of activity they undertake is there to protect their patients.

“That ensures that all registered providers are then subject to a system of monitoring and ongoing inspection to make sure that standards are being maintained. In these circumstances we will not hesitate to take further action to protect people from providers who ignore the requirements of the law.”

The company has paid the fine in full.

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