We are delighted to share the news that the CQC continues to rate our maternity services as ‘Good’, following an inspection in September 2023.

The service was inspected as part of the national maternity inspection programme which involves an announced inspection of maternity services at each Trust.

Inspections focus on whether services are safe and well-led, with the aim of providing an up-to-date view of hospital maternity care across the country. 

The inspectors carried out an on-site inspection, interviews with key staff and stakeholders and sought feedback from those who have used the service. They also submitted requests for evidence and detailed data analysis. 

The inspectors’ report, published on Wednesday 17 January 2024, is a very positive account across both the safe and well-led domains, both of which were also rated ‘Good’. 

We received no ‘must do’ actions, with inspectors reporting five ‘should do’ actions to improve services, which are recommendations related to training, further integration of electronic records and refining our approach to policies and procedures.

Summary highlights from the report include:

Safe:

• Staff understood how to protect people receiving care from abuse.
• The service was visibly clean with staff controlling infection risk well.
• Staff assessed risks to people receiving care, acted on them and kept good care records.
• Medicines were managed well.
• Safety incidents were recorded, responded to well and lessons learned.

Well-led:

• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills.
• Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were compliant.
• Staff were passionate about the care they provided and were engaged in improving the service further.
• Staff were focused on the needs of people receiving care.
• Staff felt respected, supported and valued by the leadership team, and were clear on roles and accountabilities.
• The service engaged well with women, people using the service and the community to plan and manage services.
• People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait long for treatment.

Inspectors also noted outstanding practice within the service in relation to supporting equality and equity of access to the service. They noted particularly the work with partners to overcome barriers in accessing services, which can be faced by some of the most vulnerable in the communities we serve.

Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive, Kimberley Salmon-Jamieson said:

“We are delighted and proud that our maternity services have once again been rated as ‘Good’ by the CQC, following their inspection in September 2023.

“The inspection report reflects the commitment of staff to provide the best possible maternity care within what inspectors describe as a ‘culture that places people’s care at the heart of the service’.

“As well as highlighting many areas of good practice, we are pleased inspectors also noted outstanding practice in our work with partners to overcome barriers to accessing services, which can be faced by some in our communities. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their incredible commitment and dedication to keeping people who choose to birth with us and their babies safe in our care.” 

Director of Midwifery, Ailsa Gaskill-Jones, said:

“We are all extremely proud that our service has been rated good by the CQC once again, and to have also achieved this rating across both the safe and well-led domains.

“This is good news for women and people currently in the care of our maternity services and for members of our communities who may access our services in the future.

“The inspectors’ report reflects the incredible passion of the team involved in delivering our service, from doctors, midwives, support workers and domestics to colleagues across the wider Trust. 

“We look forward to reviewing the report’s findings in more detail to ensure we continue to provide a safe and positive experience of care.”  

Read the report on the CQC website.

Background information

• The CQC inspection team visited the maternity service at Warrington Hospital in September 2023 as part of the national maternity services inspection programme.
• The visit included an on-site inspection, interviews with key staff and stakeholders, feedback from those who have used the service, plus evidence requests and detailed data analysis.
• As well as the overall ‘Good’ rating for maternity services, the inspectors also rated the safe and well-led domains as ‘Good’. The following domains were not included in this inspection: effective, caring, responsive.
• The previous CQC inspection of maternity services at the Trust was in 2019, when maternity services were rated ‘Good’.