Health Watchdog rates Coventry’s University Hospital Maternity services among the ‘best’ in the country.

The most comprehensive ever study of NHS maternity services has found that mothers and babies at University Hospital in Coventry enjoy some of the ‘best’ care in the country.

In a detailed review of 148 UK Hospital Maternity Units published today (Friday) by the independent Healthcare Commission, University Hospital has been ranked as one of the country’s ‘Best performing’ Maternity Units.

For the first time ever, prospective mothers can compare details of how their local maternity unit measures up. The review took into account 25 different factors - including staffing levels, numbers of midwives and consultants, the mothers' own views about the state of delivery suites and standards of care, and the welfare of mothers and babies.

Dr Sandra Chittenden, Head of the Healthcare Commission’s Central Region, said: "This is the most comprehensive assessment of maternity services anyone has ever published. This is a real achievement by the midwives and all who work with them, and they deserve our congratulations.

Anna Walker, the Commission’s Chief Executive, said: "We have assessed 148 trusts providing maternity services against a comprehensive range of issues that women and clinicians tell us are important. We have deliberately made the experience of women central to this review. The care given to women during pregnancy, birth and the time just after giving birth is extremely important to both the mother and the baby. It can have lasting negative effects if not handled correctly."

The review covers 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.

Each trust has been given a detailed report which assesses them on three different themes - clinical focus, women-centred care, and efficiency and capability.

Joanne Holt, from Coventry who gave birth to baby Imogen on Wednesday (23/1/08) said: "I have just given birth to my first child and the experience was wonderful from start to finish. I am very happy with the care that my baby and I have had."

Clinical Director for Maternity Services, Manu Vatish who is also a consultant obstetrician and associate Professor at Warwick Medical School says: "This independent report shows that women in Coventry and Warwickshire benefit from first class maternity care. This is a tribute to the hard work of midwives, doctors and other clinical staff in the Trust."

Carmel McCalmont, Head of Midwifery at University Hospital said: "We work exceptionally hard to ensure every mum has a positive birth experience and so we are delighted that this review has shown our patients do feel they receive an excellent service. This is testament to all the staff here in the Womens Unit who in our opinion, as well as our mums, are among the best in the NHS."

West Midlands
The four (4) trusts in the West Midlands which achieved the highest rating of "Best performing", are:
* Burton Hospitals NHS Trust

* Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust

* Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

* University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Seven (7) trusts were rated "Better performing", two (2) were "Fair performing" and two (2) trusts scored "Least well performing.