UK Edition
Watchdogs release damning reports on Marie Stopes abortion clinics
Staff at Britain’s biggest abortion provider tried to give a vulnerable woman a termination even though she did not understand what was going on, a damning report has found.
Inspectors were forced to intervene as the patient with learning disabilities became distressed, amid a catalogue of failings uncovered at Marie Stopes clinics across the country.
Watchdogs described horrific scenes which left patients at risk of infection, with foetal tissue from a succession of terminations left in open waste bins, in one clinic.
And they said the abortion provider - which sees 70,000 women a year - was failing to ensure rules on consent were followed.
At one clinic, in Norwich, doctors were found to be “bulk signing” up to 60 consent forms at a time, with little indication that they were familiar with a patient’s situation. At another, in Sandwell, West Midlands, inspectors found “poor and insensitive” handling of a patient with learning difficulties who did not understand what was going on.
And inspectors who visited the headquarters of the charity found poor risk management, insufficient monitoring of consent and limited clinical oversight of the charity’s 60 clinics.
Thousands of women waiting for abortions were referred to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and to NHS trusts while such services were stopped.
Until now, the CQC has not explained the nature of the findings, which also saw the suspension of all services at the Norwich clinic.
The organisation was also banned from opening any new services, until the concerns were dealt with.
Last night the regulator issued 12 reports, detailing a litany of failings at clinics run by Britain’s largest abortion provider.
Some of the worst infection failings were found in Norwich, with foetal tissue left in an “open hazardous waste bin” which was not emptied between cases.
Staff were not trained in how to respond to a deteriorating patient, achieving poor results when resuscitation simulations were attempted. Patients were put at risk of avoidable errors, because basic surgery checklists were not followed, with long waits for patients having terminations.
In South London, obtaining consent was left to nurses and healthcare assistants, in breach of laws which state this should be done by doctors.
In Maidstone in Kent, inspectors found failings in infection control systems, with poor hand hygiene, and failures in pre-surgical preparation.
The MSI group was allowed to recommence restricted services in October, after carrying out training in resuscitation, consent and governance.
Professor Edward Baker, deputy chief inspector of hospitals at the Care Quality Commission, said: "Our inspections of Marie Stopes International from earlier this year identified a number of serious concerns, which were recognised in its temporary suspension of specific types of termination in August.”
He said the group had made progress since the inspections but would continue to be monitored very closely, with further action, if necessary.
"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.”
"While we recognise that Marie Stopes International has made progress since our inspections, we will continue to monitor its services very closely and our planned re-inspections will determine exactly how embedded these improvements have been,” he said.
"We will not hesitate to take further action, if necessary in order to guarantee this provider meets the standard of care we expect and that its patients deserve."
Suzanne Ash, interim managing director at Marie Stopes UK, said: “We have worked hard with the Care Quality Commission 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.”