Women in north Cumbria are 'treated with kindness and compassion' according to the results of a national maternity survey published today (Thursday 28th November).

Women who gave birth in February 2024 were surveyed about their experiences of care, from antenatal care, care during labour and birth, and post-natal care.

Compared to other NHS trusts, patient feedback was 'somewhat better than expected' for the key areas of 'labour and birth' and 'self caring for you', and feedback was 'about the same' as other NHS trusts for 'care in hospital after the birth'.

Responses for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) – which runs maternity services at the Cumberland Infirmary, West Cumberland Hospital and Penrith Community Hospital - were received from 156 women.

Women were particularly positive about:

  • Advice at start of labour (9.1/10 score, better for that question compared to other trusts)
  • Staff doing everything they could to manage pain during labour and birth (8.3/10 score, better for that question compared to other trusts)
  • Staff introducing themselves before examination or treatment (9.4/10, better for that question compared to other trusts)
  • Concerns being taken seriously once raised (9.1/10 score, better for that question compared to other trusts)
  • Involvement in decisions (9.1/10 score, better for that question compared to other trusts)
  • Being treated with kindness and compassion during labour and birth (9.5/10 score, better for that question compared to other trusts)

 

Chief Nurse Jill Foster said:

"These surveys provide invaluable feedback, and I am pleased to see that women are feeling supported in a number of key areas. Ensuring the health and wellbeing of both mother and child during one of the most critical periods of their lives is essential.

"We are continuously striving to keep improving our maternity services, for example in West Cumberland Hospital we have now moved wards for all antenatal and postnatal patients to offer a new inpatient area with upgraded facilities for families. We have also been improving our triage systems at both WCH & CIC and now have a dedicated triage midwife, along with the telephone line to call 24/7/365, for women to ring with any concerns within their pregnancy and postnatal period.

"We will analyse and use these results to continue to improve so that we can provide every mother and baby with the best possible start in life."

National results are available here: Maternity survey 2024 - Care Quality Commission

NCIC results are here: North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust - Care Quality Commission

Benchmark results are here: All Files - NHS Surveys