Press release – October 3 2023

EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01HRS Weds, Oct 4 2023

2023/019

A wide range of improvements on the maternity ward at Hereford County Hospital have been recognised by inspectors who say staff are delivering a “good” service.

The Care Quality Commission visited Hereford County Hospital earlier this year and carried out a focused inspection on Maternity Services.

The report, published today, praises the staff who the inspectors say were working “incredibly hard” to deliver a high standard of care to those using their services.

They added that they found a “well-respected and supportive leadership team” in the maternity service with skills and experience to run the service well.

Amie Symes, the Trust’s Associate Director of Midwifery, said: “We’re delighted to receive the CQC report which highlights overall improvements in our maternity service, and in particular the rating improvement to ‘good’ in how well-led the service is.

“We’re incredibly proud of our wonderful maternity team, working with dedication, enthusiasm and pride to achieve these improvements. We are fortunate to benefit from a highly skilled and experienced multi-disciplinary team across a range of specialities including midwifery, obstetrics, paediatrics, anaesthetics and theatres, and the improvements made are a testament to the team’s hard work and commitment to the service.”

She added that by working closely with, and listening to, service users had enabled the team to develop the kind of services local people want.

“Developing strong relationships with our service users through the Maternity Voices Partnership has enabled them to influence and shape our priorities. This, coupled with the implementation of local and national recommendations, has facilitated improvements to care provision.

“While the report identifies that the safe domain ‘requires improvement,’ we are committed and making good progress towards our quality improvement objectives.

“Our staff pride themselves on providing exceptional and compassionate care to women, babies and their families who access our service, and this remains our priority.”

Jane Ives, the Trust’s Managing Director, said: “Our excellent maternity team deserves this recognition.

“They have worked very hard to continually improve the service to women and families. Listening to the users of the service and responding to feedback, as well as implementing clinical best practice, latest research and national guidelines.

“Our next ambition as a Trust is to be rated as “good” overall, and this rating is a further step in this direction.

“We shall look closely at the full report and continue to closely monitor the service to further improve the quality of service we are offering our local communities.”

Pic caption:

Something to shout about - Amie Symes, front row in the red dress, with colleagues after hearing news of the CQC’s “Good” rating for Maternity Services

Ends

Notes to Editors WVT:

For further information please contact:

John Burnett, Communication and Engagement Manager, or Amanda Millichip/Fiona Gurney, Communication Officers, at Wye Valley NHS Trust: 01432 372928