Today (Friday 9 January) the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its 2023 Maternity Survey for 121 NHS Trusts. The results show our maternity service users rate their experience as significantly improved when compared to the Trust’s scores from last year.
The results of the survey showcase significant improvements in various aspects of maternal care at our Lister Maternity Unit.
Among the notable improvements, our dedication to fostering a supportive environment for partners and companions was commended, with the percentage of service users who felt their partners or companions were involved in their care increasing by 18% to 92%.
The results also showed 97% of women have confidence and trust in the staff who looked after them during labour and birth, 2% higher than the national average.
The survey also revealed a substantial increase in the percentage of service users who reported being asked about their mental health by our midwives during the antenatal period. This figure improved by 6% in 2022 to 94% in 2023, highlighting the important work of our Perinatal Mental Health team.
Amanda Rowley, Director of Midwifery at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust said:
“These encouraging survey results not only reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality maternity care but also serve as a testament to the dedication and hard work of the healthcare professionals within our Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit. With a focus on continuous improvement and first class care for our service users, we remain focused in our commitment to continued improvement and further increasing our overall CQC rating – providing exceptional maternity care to our women and service users.”
Other improvements highlighted by the survey include:
- Progress in ensuring that service users received appropriate advice and support at the onset of labour – with the percentage of individuals reporting such support increasing from 70% to 88%, reflecting our continued commitment to offering comprehensive care throughout the childbirth process.
- Improvements to our accessibility and responsiveness, with more service users reporting that they could seek help when needed and felt involved in decision-making processes during the postnatal period. The percentage of individuals feeling supported in accessing assistance increased by 6%, while those feeling involved in care decisions rose by 7% – both figures reaching a 95% and 92%, respectively.
- Progress in ensuring that service users received appropriate advice and support at the onset of labour – with the percentage of individuals reporting such support increasing from 70% to 88%, reflecting our continued commitment to offering comprehensive care throughout the childbirth process.
- Significant enhancements in providing support and guidance on infant feeding, with 92% of service users reporting receiving help and advice during the critical first six weeks after birth, marking a 7% increase from the previous year.
- The Trust’s dedication to ensuring that expectant mothers have ample opportunities to address their queries and concerns during antenatal check-ups. With 99% of service users feeling they had enough time to ask questions during these appointments – a 5% increase from the previous year.
