MATERNITY services in Coventry and Warwickshire have become the first to be given the top rating for leadership.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust has been rated ‘Outstanding’ in the the ‘well-led’ category in the CQC’s National Maternity Services Inspection Programme.
The CQC praised the service’s focus on continuous improvement after visiting all areas, including the antenatal clinic and ward, maternity triage, labour ward, birth centre, day assessment and postnatal ward – last November.
The CQC said: “There was a demonstrated commitment to best practice and a strong organisational commitment towards ensuring equality and inclusion.
“Staff were proud of the organisation, spoke highly of the culture, were clear about their accountabilities and put women and families at the centre of their care.”
The overall rating for the maternity service at University Hospital Coventry (UHC) remains as Good.
The rating for ‘well-led’ went up from Good to Outstanding, while the rating for ‘safe’ stayed as Good.
The CQC added: “Teams were focused on delivering high quality care and ensuring women and birthing people had choice and control over the way their care is planned and is based on what mattered to them, and their individual needs and preferences.”
The Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, Prof Andy Hardy, said: “We aim to ensure every expectant mother and their loved ones are supported – from pregnancy, to birth, to the critical first months of parenthood – with a comprehensive package of personalised, high-quality support.
“These inspection findings show we are realising this, thanks to the expertise of our staff, the approachability of our leaders and our unwavering commitment to engaging with service users to help further enhance the patient experience.”
In the report, inspectors praised the work of the Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage research, staff training, one-stop clinics, drop-ins and education classes for vulnerable women.
It also commended the Trust’s neonatal outreach community service (NCOS), short waiting lists, and risk assessment.
Stella Manzie DBE, Chair of the Trust’s Board of Directors, said: “I’d like to congratulate our maternity teams and services for reaching these high standards.
“To ensure we continue to improve, we are actively addressing focus areas such as the introduction of a dedicated bereavement suite, with a location already identified to complement the facilities we have in place.”
Visit cqc.org.uk/location/RKB01 to read the full report.
