CQC again rates maternity services at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust as good

News - 26 March 2024

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report following an inspection of the maternity services at both Weston General Hospital and UHBW Bristol Main Site (St Michael’s Hospital), both run by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, in December.
A mother breastfeeding her young baby.

The inspection was carried out as part of CQC’s national maternity services inspection programme. This programme aims to provide an up-to-date view of the quality of hospital maternity care across the country, and a better understanding of what is working well to support learning and improvement locally and nationally.  

Following the inspection, the overall maternity service ratings at Ashcombe Birth Centre at Weston General Hospital was rated as good as were the ratings for safe and well led. This inspection didn’t rate how effective, caring and responsive the service was.  

This is the first time Ashcombe Birth Centre at Weston General Hospital has been rated as a standalone service.

UHBW Bristol Main Site remains rated as good as was the rating for well led. Safe remains rated as requires improvement. This inspection didn’t rate how effective, caring and responsive the service was.

The overall rating for UHBW Bristol Main Site remains good overall. Weston General Hospital is not currently rated.

The overall rating for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust remains as good.

Inspectors found in both services: 

  • Staff worked well together for the benefit of women and birthing people.
  • Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent.
  • Staff felt respected, supported, and valued and were focused on the needs of woman and birthing people receiving care.
  • People could access the services when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
  • Staff were committed to continually improving services.
  • The services engaged well with women and birthing people and the community to plan and manage services.

However, at UHBW inspectors also found:

  • Staff did not always complete checks of emergency equipment.
  • 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 led care.

The full CQC inspection report can now be read on the CQC’s website.

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