When I became pregnant with my youngest, I decided to transfer my care to Southend Hospital because Basildon had been declared unsafe by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). I have been speaking to other new mums in Thurrock about their experiences at Basildon.
In recent months, they have had to stop the use of gas and air in the delivery suite because the Entonox has been leaking into the wards, exposing staff to dangerously high levels of the gas. This is simply not acceptable and local pregnant women and our NHS staff deserve better.
I recently brought Labour’s Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Patient Safety, Feryal Clark MP, to listen to the experiences of women in Thurrock who have given birth at Basildon and I will continue to campaign hard on this important issue.
I’d like to hear more from local women who have given birth at Basildon, or who decided to transfer their care to another hospital because of Basildon’s failings. Please fill out my survey here to share your experiences.