A FULL investigation has begun into the NHS trust which oversees maternity wards where five women have died in the last 18 months.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) announced its inquiry into the standards of care provided by the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust today (June 29).

The CQC told the Trust to improve its maternity services in April, following the death of Tebussum Ali and her baby at Queen's Hospital in Romford.

Staff had failed to spot she had a ruptured womb and tried to revive her with a disconnected oxygen mask.

Two midwives were suspended following Mrs Ali’s death, but after inspectors carried out a series of unannounced visits and reviews at Barking, Havering and Redbridge Trust hospitals, the CQC has decided that not enough has been done to improve the situation.

Colin Hough, CQC’s regional director for London, said: “We’ve been monitoring this Trust very closely, making frequent unannounced visits, talking to patients and staff - and we keep finding problems.”

And he added: “We warned the Trust that we would take action if we were not confident that all necessary steps were taken to ensure people receive safe care. This investigation will now determine what action is needed.”

The CQC’s April review found the trust had failed to meet what it called six essential standards of care in its maternity services.

Two of those areas, staffing and the care of and welfare of patients, were deemed to be a major cause for concern.

The Trust responded by recruiting 60 new midwives, but although the CQC acknowledges that some progress has been made, it says that not enough has been done to assure it that the Trust is doing everything necessary to ensure safe care for patients.

The Trust’s chief executive Averil Dongworth, was appointed in January this year, at a time when the organisation’s financial position was described as “a matter for serious concern” following a report by the Audit Commission which pointed to multi-million pound losses over the past five years.

Reacting to the announcement of the inquiry, she said: "The CQC recognises that some improvements have already been made, although we need to go further and sustain this.

"We welcome the CQC's investigation and will be working closely with them."

The Trust is also at the centre of a storm over plans to close the A&E and maternity units at King George Hospital and integrate those units at Queen’s Hospital.

Barking MP Margaret Hodge and Ilford North MP Lee Scott were among MPs who expressed grave concerns about the plans in a Parliamentary debate last week.

The plans are on hold pending a review by government body, The Independent Reconfiguration Panel, which will be presented to the Secretary of State for Health.

The CQC has powers to bring a prosecution against the Trust or individuals working within the organisation.

It can also restrict admissions to hospitals and wards within the trust which it deems unsatisfactory, and recommend replacing members of the Trust’s management to the Strategic Health Authority.