Report by Healthwatch Cumbria.
Maternity Report February 2016
Please see below for the final Healthwatch Cumbria Report:
This is the analysis of the information collected in November 2015 through an online survey; more than 70 visits to sessions where mums meet, drop in sessions and public events.
This is the culmination of a significant piece of partnership work which involved an intense period of engagement during November 2015 to encourage responses to an online survey, as well as many individual engagement events that happened across Cumbria and in North Lancashire.
The project was led by Healthwatch Cumbria in partnership with Maternity Services Liaison Committees around the county. Analysis was supported by the University of Cumbria.
Healthwatch would like to thank everyone who helped with this important project for their support, encouragement and expertise, as well as the respondents of the survey whose insight and feedback into maternity services were invaluable.
Gail Naylor, executive director of nursing & midwifery at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“The Trust welcomes the report published today and would like to thank Healthwatch Cumbria and the Maternity Service Liaison Committees for carrying out this important engagement work with our local communities.
“It is excellent to read that there are generally high levels of satisfaction with care received at all stages of pregnancy and after baby is born. However, we also recognise that there are always areas where we can improve and we will certainly consider and, where possible, act upon feedback received.
“The Trust recently confirmed that we are investing £100,000 to fund Midwifery-Led Units (MLUs) at both of our hospitals on the recommendations of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists-led review of maternity services. The new services, starting in Spring this year, will give women greater choice when it comes to their treatment and the option of giving birth in a less clinical environment.
“Securing an appropriate long term solution for maternity services in West, North & East Cumbria is one of our key priorities and we will continue to work to achieve this alongside our partners in the Success Regime.”