A controversial hospitals trust is showing an improvement - at least in maternity!

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust - struggling to improve standards after more than 90 people died from a hospital-acquired infection - has shown an improvement in its maternity standards.

The Health Commission report published on Thursday listed the trust as "better performing".

Nationally, the report found beds for women giving birth in hospital were in short supply.

There were also not enough showers or toilets, with some beds used for more that one birth a day.

The Healthcare Commission’s research involving 150 NHS Trusts has raised concerns in antenatal and postnatal services, in particular in relation to staffing and teamwork.

The commission is now urging the NHS to “redouble” its efforts to improve maternity units at a special launch of its report at a health conference in Birmingham.

In Kent, the East Kent Hospitals Trust was rated as providing a 'fair' midwifery service, but it says it has already made a number of improvements since it was assessed nine months ago.

The Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Medway NHS Trust were also rated as fair.

Sir Ian Kennedy, the commission's chairman, who will be addressing 200 health professionals at the launch, said: “I know that many trusts are already working on the points that we then raised.

“Boards of trusts are now reviewing their performance and acting where necessary.”

The nationwide report was prompted by investigations into deaths at maternity units around the country.