Maternity services at North Bristol NHS Trust have been praised in this year’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) Maternity survey, with the Trust ranking second in the UK for women’s experiences during labour and birth and third nationally for staff care.
The survey asked women and birthing people to share their experiences on several aspects of their maternity care at North Bristol, ranging from antenatal care and birth choices, care during labour and birth, care on the postnatal ward and advice around infant feeding.
Respondents praised their overall experience of both antenatal and labour and birth care, were happy with how long their partner was allowed to stay with them post-birth and felt that midwives and doctors communicated well with them during labour and birth.
Maria Kane, Joint CEO of North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, said: “I am delighted to see such excellent feedback from women and birthing people who’ve used our Maternity services, and am especially proud to see us ranking so highly at a national level across so many categories.
“I want to thank our Maternity team for their continued hard work and dedication – I’m thrilled their care and commitment has been recognised in this way.”
The survey was completed by women and birthing people who gave birth under the care of North Bristol’s maternity services in February 2024. Almost half of eligible people completed the survey, which was published this month.
People also felt their concerns were taken seriously and praised the Trust for the support and advice it provided about infant feeding during evenings, nights and weekends.
Professor Steve Hams, Chief Nursing Officer at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: “This is an outstanding achievement for all of our colleagues working in our maternity services, and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who contributes daily to caring for local women and birthing people.
“Our maternity teams work tirelessly under often challenging circumstances, and it’s heartwarming to see their compassion and kindness being recognised by the women and birthing people and families they care for. This recognition truly reflects their dedication and the difference they make every day.
“We want every person who uses our maternity services to feel they’ve been treated with dignity, care and respect, and I am very proud that this survey shines a light on the care our teams provide.”
The survey included questions around antenatal care, labour and birth and postnatal care, both in hospital and at home in the community. Some of the areas of good practice at North Bristol which respondents praised were:
The overall experience of Maternity services was overwhelmingly positive, with 99 per cent of those surveyed feeling they were treated with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect during labour and birth. This places North Bristol NHS Trust top nationally in relation to this question specifically.
81 per cent of people said their partner was able to stay with them as long as they wanted in hospital after birth – up from 23 per cent in the 2023 survey, and 14 per cent higher than the national average in 2024.
Communication from Maternity staff was a particular highlight. 94 per cent of respondents said they felt any concerns they had during labour and birth were taken seriously by staff; a score which again places North Bristol NHS Trust top in the UK for this specific question. All respondents also said that staff introduced themselves during labour and birth.
Julie Northrop, Divisional Director of Midwifery and Nursing for Women and Children’s at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: “As a midwife, I’ve always felt it is an enormous privilege to care for families at this monumental time of their lives. I feel extremely proud of the team here, who I know help women and birthing people to feel informed, empowered and valued at every step during their pregnancy and birth. I am also especially grateful to the families who kindly shared their thoughts with us for this survey.
Dr Jo Crofts, Lead Obstetrician at North Bristol NHS Trust, added: “As a team we are delighted that the women we provide care for have said that they felt they were treated with kindness and compassion. We all pride ourselves on trying to make every birth experience positive and special, so to hear we are getting it right means the world to us all.”
The vast majority of women and birthing people surveyed gave birth at Southmead Hospital in Bristol; however, a small number of women chose to give birth at home under the care of North Bristol’s Homebirth team.
The report also highlighted some areas for improvement, with a lower-than-average number of respondents saying they were discharged from hospital without delay after giving birth.
The Trust will continue to develop the areas of good practice highlighted during the survey, along with building on the areas of improvement identified.