Bristol maternity services rated 'good' in CQC report

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report rating maternity services in Bristol as "good".

Inspections were carried out at Weston General Hospital and St Michael's Hospital in Bristol city centre in December.

Both sites are run by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.

The inspection did not rate how effective, caring and responsive either hospital was.

It was carried out as part of the regulator's national maternity services inspection programme, which aims to provide an up-to-date view of the quality of maternity care in hospitals across the country.

Across both services, inspectors found that staff worked competently and well together, they felt respected, supported and valued and were focused on the needs of women and birthing people receiving care. They were also found to be committed to continually improve services.

Inspectors also found that managers monitored the effectiveness of the service.

Patients accessing care were able to do so when they needed it, and did not have to wait too long for treatment, the report said.

However, inspectors also found that staff did not always complete checks of emergency equipment, and the service did not always review incidents in a timely way.

Midwifery staffing levels overall impacted on staffing levels on the postnatal wards and the availability of midwifery care, they added.

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