Baby Peter NHS Trusts make improvements

Last year the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had found "systemic failings" in the way the North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and Whittington Hospital NHS Trust handled his case.

But in its latest report, released this week, the CQC says the trusts have made "significant progress".

Three of five recommendations made last year have now been met in full. Inspectors found that all four trusts have dramatically improved training around child protection procedures and improved links with children's services.

Also, Great Ormond Street Hospital has successfully reviewed its consultant cover at St Ann's Hospital.

However, more needs to be done to address a recommendation concerning staffing levels and ensuring staff vacancy rates are monitored.

The trusts also need to do more to ensure staff can attend child protection case conferences. Inspectors added that information sharing between organisations was better but still needed improvement.
 
Cynthia Bower, CQC's chief executive, said: "They must make sure there are enough appropriately trained staff to care for children and continue to build on the progress already made in improving systems to share information with social services teams.

"It is also vital that clinical staff attend child protection case conferences to ensure all services involved in protecting children are working together and sharing crucial information. The importance of this must not be underestimated."