University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) has performed at or above the national average for every question in the CQC’s latest national Maternity Services Survey.
The data confirms the Trust is delivering high-quality, compassionate care, with patient feedback ranking the service as better than the national average in four key areas.
The survey, completed by more than 260 families who gave birth at the Trust earlier this year, shows their experience was much better compared to many other Trusts across the country, particularly in the critical labour and birth phase.
Chief Nurse, Dr Maggie Davies said: “Our maternity and neonatal teams work so hard for the women and families they care for, and the positive impact of that commitment is clear to see in this survey. These results directly reflect the experiences of the women and families who rely on our teams.”
“Although the feedback in this survey is hugely welcome and encouraging, we know that sadly not everyone has a good experience – we must never lose sight of that, and never stop learning.
“We are committed to continuous improvement for the sake of those who rely on us, and we use all patient feedback to further enhance services for all our mothers, babies, and their families.”
UHSussex was rated Better than Expected or Somewhat Better than Expected in the following vital aspects of care:
- Advice at start of labour (9.1/10): Mothers praised the appropriate advice and support received when first contacting a midwife or the hospital (Better than expected).
- Being sent home (9.5/10): Patients felt confident that they were not sent home during labour when they were worried (Somewhat better than expected).
- Partner involvement (9.8/10): Partners were involved as much as they wanted during labour and birth (Somewhat better than expected).
- Clear communication (9.6/10): Mothers were spoken to during labour and birth in a way they could clearly understand (Better than expected).
No scores below average
A thorough review of the complete survey data underscores the consistent, high-calibre care provided by the Trust’s dedicated teams.
The results demonstrate an impressive achievement: for every single question posed in the survey, UHSussex’s performance was rated as ‘About the same,’ ‘Somewhat better,’ or ‘Better’ than the national average.
The Trust’s maternity and neonatal service received no results scores in the three lowest-ranking categories (‘Somewhat worse,’ ‘Worse,’ or ‘Much worse’), clearly demonstrating consistently high standards of care in Sussex for birthing women and their families.
Director of Midwifery, Emma Chambers, said: “This fantastic survey outcome is a direct testament to the tireless commitment, kindness, and professionalism of every member of our maternity and neonatal team—from our midwives, nurses and doctors to our support staff.
“We know the arrival of a baby is one of the most important times in a family’s life, and we are incredibly proud to have earned feedback that shows our communication, partner involvement, and providing timely advice when it matters most is highly valued.
“To know we are performing at or above the national average for every single measure is a tremendous achievement. I want to personally thank our staff for their dedication and reassure the entire community that the quality of our maternity and neonatal service is safe, strong, and focused on delivering the best possible experience for every family.”