Inspectors welcome improvement in maternity services
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has welcomed noticeable improvements in maternity services at Northwick Park Hospital in the past six months.
The service’s rating was upgraded to ‘requires improvement’, with inspectors encouraged by how quickly the hospital has addressed its original concerns about patient care and work culture.
A new management team is supporting the delivery of a maternity improvement plan, which includes better administration, training and incident reporting.
There was shared learning among staff and updated risk assessments for every patient, as well the appointment of two midwives monitoring patient outcomes and service provision.
It is also easier for people to raise concerns and provide feedback, while staff have a greater understanding of the cultural and religious needs of women in one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the country.
Inspectors noted a marked improvement in staff morale and working practice, helped by initiatives including a ‘civility’ programme, ‘back to floor’ day for managers, mindfulness sessions and zero tolerance towards inappropriate behavior and bullying.
Chief Nurse Lisa Knight said: “We’ve listened to the CQC and it’s encouraging that they have recognised the positive changes in our maternity unit.
“We understand that we have more work to do but I’m pleased that our teams have embraced the challenge. The hard work and dedication of our staff has started to show a real difference.
“We’re paying close attention to the areas where we still need to make changes, and we’re totally committed to continuing with our maternity improvement plan.
“Now we’ll continue to work with our local families and communities to offer them the excellent care they deserve.”