The national survey, which included 119 NHS trusts and gathered over 16,700 responses, focused on women who gave birth in February 2025. At The QEH, 101 women responded, giving a 44.5% response rate – among the highest in the region.
The results show that The QEH had no areas rated worse or much worse than other trusts. In fact, 17 questions were rated better, somewhat better, or much better than the national average. Areas of particular strength included pain management during labour, women feeling that concerns were taken seriously, personalised support at home after birth, and respectful and dignified care across antenatal and labour wards.
These results demonstrate the dedication of our midwives, nurses, doctors, and support teams to delivering safe, compassionate, and personalised care.
Esther Dorken, Head of Midwifery at The QEH, said: “We are delighted that women have reported such positive experiences of our maternity services. We are committed to listening, learning and continually improving, and these results reflect our team’s hard work.”
Pippa Street, Chief Nurse at The QEH, added: “These results are a testament to the passion and professionalism of our maternity colleagues. Thank you to everyone who delivers outstanding care every day.”
In addition to these survey results, The QEH recently welcomed Baroness Valerie Amos and her team, who are leading an independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services across England. We are one of only 12 trusts selected, representing coastal, rural, and urban communities, to ensure a wide range of voices and experiences are heard. This national review aims to capture the experiences of women and families, identify best practice, and support improvements to care and safety. The visit has not yet concluded, with the investigation team scheduled to return in the New Year. A full report is expected in spring 2026.
We thank everyone who took part in the survey; your feedback plays a crucial role in shaping the future of maternity care at The QEH.
For more information or to read the full CQC report, visit: Maternity survey 2025 – Care Quality Commission
Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
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