Maternity unit improves

A panel's decided a maternity unit criticised last year over the deaths of two young babies has now made improvements.

A review's been taking place at Milton Keynes Hospital after its maternity unit was criticised by the Care Quality Commission in January 2010.  An independent panel say the unit's now of an adequate standard and mums should feel safe to give birth in it.

Nine of the twelve conditions placed on the Milton Keynes maternity unit in 2010 have now been lifted, in view of the improvements that have been made.

"You don't change a reputation overnight," said Tony Halton, MK Hospital's Chief Nurse, "but what we have improved very rapidly is the outcomes for women, the experience that women get and the experience our staff have in delivering care and those are the most important things."