Highest Level Rating for Maternity

Mums-to-be and new mums can feel reassured that the maternity staff at Derriford Hospital are providing safe and a high level of clinical care, following an intensive review by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA).

Following a rigorous assessment, the maternity service has, for the first time, been awarded the highest level status under the insurance scheme for NHS hospitals.

The Trust was awarded Level 3 under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST), a level which is only given to those Trusts which can demonstrate the safest and best service for patients.

Being awarded a Level 3 equates to a £1.2m reduction in the amount Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has to pay into the insurance scheme over a three year period.

Sue Stock, Head of Midwifery and Associate Director of Nursing explained the difference between this achievement and that of Level 2, awarded at the previous assessment in December 2011: "Level 2 is widely accepted as the benchmark standard. Our service has now however demonstrated to external assessors a superior level of patient safety and care.

“This result could not be achieved without a total team commitment; part of the rigorous assessment involves every single aspect of the care pathway being scrutinised by the assessors reading hundreds of entries within maternity records. They need to be reassured that care is consistently as it should be and reflective of national guidance.

“This is an amazing achievement and I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in providing our service to women and their families, for this demonstration of great team work.”

The assessors spent two days at the Trust reviewing not just notes, but the guidelines and processes to which the department adheres and the audits that are undertaken to monitor levels of care.

The assessors were very impressed with changes within the department such as the workforce design that ensures that all midwives maintain the skills and knowledge to care for women from booking in early pregnancy through to the point of discharge when the baby is approximately two weeks old. An investment in midwives has also been secured since the previous assessment seeing an additional 18 qualified staff now working within the Trust.

Chief Executive Ann James said: “The maternity team achieved a pass rate of 46 out 50 in the assessors’ feedback, which is an absolutely brilliant team effort. I would like to congratulate Sue and the team for the work that has made this happen. It is very well deserved and a good reflection on their service.”