Healthcare Commission rates NNUH maternity services as good

The first national rating of maternity services by the Healthcare Commission has judged the service provided by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital as good.

The Healthcare Commission's first national maternity sevices review has looked at three main areas – clinical focus, women-centred care, and efficiency.

The Commission ranked 21% of maternity services as “least well performing” (31 trusts), 22% as “fair performing” (32 trusts). Some 26% of trusts were “best performing (38 trusts) and 32% were “better performing” (47 trusts). The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust's maternity service was judged as better performing.

The review covered the care provided from the time when pregnant women first access maternity services to their sign-off by the midwife – usually around 10 days after the birth. It included general care provided by trusts to women, such as the provision of tests and screening, antenatal appointments, birth choice options and postnatal care as well as value for money issues such as number and use of staff.

Acting Head of Midwifery Glynis Moore said: “We provide the busiest maternity service in the region and we are pleased that the Healthcare Commission has judged the service as good. We will look closely at the review to see how we can improve our service further.”