UHCW MATERNITY SERVICE RECEIVES HIGHEST CQC RATING FOR ITS WELL LED SERVICE
13 March 2023
Our partner organisation University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust Maternity Services has become the first to be given the top rating for leadership.
The inspection was carried out as part of CQC’s national maternity services inspection programme (NMSIP). UHCW was praised by The Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the safe and personalised Maternity services delivered at and rated Outstanding for the leadership provided to support patients.
The Trust is the first Maternity Service to achieve the highest possible rating for the well-led category as part of the CQC’s National Maternity Services Inspection Programme.
Statement from Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
I am delighted to share the news with you that our Maternity teams and services have been commended by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as part of its National Maternity Services Inspection Programme (NMSIP).
Following an inspection in November, the overall rating of the service has remained as Good, with the ‘well led’ domain moving from Good to Outstanding – the highest possible. We are the first Trust in the country to achieve this for the NMSIP.
This incredible recognition is testament to the expertise, passion and dedication of Maternity Services and the wider Trust and how you all continue to strive to provide the highest quality of care to our local communities.
There is so much to be proud of in the report, but this line really stood out: “Staff feel proud of the organisation, spoke highly of the culture, were clear about their roles and accountabilities and put women and families at the centre of their care.”
It was also pleasing to hear the CQC say that teams are focused on 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.
Other highlights include:
- Staff were committed to continually improving services and safe innovation was celebrated
- The Trust becoming the first university hospital in the UK to be awarded the internationally acclaimed Pathway to Excellence designation
- The work being undertaken by the Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage research in partnership with three universities and three other hospitals
- Staff training being responsive to patient needs and using cutting-edge technology and real-life human factors to enhance safety considerations
- The establishment of one-stop clinics, drop-ins and education classes for vulnerable women
- A neonatal outreach community service (NCOS) being established in September 2022
- People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment
- Diversity and inclusion being treated with high importance across the services
- Staff assessed risks to women, acted on them and kept good care records.
Whilst this fantastic news should be celebrated, ‘better never stops’ and action plans will be created to directly address areas of improvement identified in the report. This includes continuing the progress already made to create a dedicated bereavement suite in our Maternity footprint.
Please take the time to view the full report – feel free to share any further feedback on how we can continue to improve our services.
Thank you for the compassion and care you provide to your patients every day and for helping us to achieve such a positive CQC rating.
You can read the full report on CQC’s website.