MATERNITY services were rated as good at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection in April.

Inspectors looked at the areas of 'safe' and 'well-led' of services at Hexham General Hospital and Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) in Cramlington.

The Hexham facility was recently upgraded, with the new unit opening in June, while the rating for NSECH represents maintained standards following a ‘requires improvement’ grade back in 2015.

The inspection was carried out as part of CQC’s national maternity inspection programme, which provides an up-to-date view of the quality of hospital maternity care across the country.

Maternity services at both Hexham General Hospital and Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital were rated good overall and for the areas of safe and well-led.

Part of Hexham General Hospital's report said: "Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. They were proud to work at Hexham General Hospital. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of women receiving care, provided personalised care and were proactive in addressing concerns."

The overall rating for Northumbria Healthcare remains outstanding.

Northumbria Healthcare's deputy director of secondary and specialist healthcare, Carolyn Jenkinson, said: “When we inspected maternity services at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, we saw a service that provided good care to women, people using the service, and their babies. It was led by committed and effective leaders who had created a kind and caring culture across both hospitals.

“Staff we met at every level displayed an overwhelming sense of pride and happiness at work. They promoted a culture that placed people’s care at the heart of the service, and they recognised the power of caring relationships between people. This was reflected in recent survey responses where most people who had received care described staff as excellent."

"The maternity service should also be commended for demonstrating some outstanding practice. For example, last year it won the Bright Ideas in Healthcare finals for its Foetal Wellbeing Education Programme."

Inspectors found the following at Hexham General Hospital: 

  • Leaders ran services very well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills.
  • Staff assessed risks to people using the service and their babies, acted on them and kept good care records.
  • Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work.
  • All staff were committed to improving services continually.
  • Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent.
  • Leaders promoted an open culture of multi-disciplinary teamwork and learning.