The CQC inspected maternity services at Medway Maritime Hospital in December 2022 looking at the areas of safe and well-led. We are pleased they found continuing good practice and made no change to their rating of Good.
They noted good practice in several areas, with positive comments within the report about the care provided in the hospital’s maternity unit. Maternity services were rated as ‘Good’, maintaining their previous rating following the last inspection.
The report commends the maternity services offered, including initiatives such as Call the Midwife, which is a 24-hour-a-day triage phone service, answered by experienced midwives, and Team Aurelia, a multi-disciplinary team which focuses on elective caesarean births.
Bereavement facilities, which include a dedicated sound-proofed space for families to spend time after a baby loss, were described as outstanding.
Other areas singled out for praise included infection prevention and control, and the ‘visible and approachable leadership’ within the unit.
In addition, CQC inspectors found that:
- Women and people using the service were given choice over the place where they could give birth
- Women and people using the service were receiving safe care, with risk assessments being completed and updated regularly, and action being taken to remove or minimise risks where they were found
- Staff knew how to raise concerns and how to report incidents. There had been no ‘never’ events on any of the maternity wards in the last 12 months. A ‘never event’ is a serious incident that could be prevented.
Chief Executive Jayne Black said: “I am delighted that the CQC has recognised the good practice within our maternity services.
“I am very proud of our team, and I am so pleased that the inspection team saw first-hand the excellent care they provide in our maternity unit.
“We know there is still more that we can do to improve, and we remain committed to providing the outstanding service that the people of Medway and Swale expect and deserve.”
On this occasion the CQC did not inspect other services, and therefore the rating for the Trust remains as ‘Requires Improvement’.
A copy of the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission’s website.
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