Inspectors upgrade Northampton General Hospital’s maternity services from ‘requiring improvement’ to ‘good’

Northampton General Hospital’s maternity services have been rated as ‘requiring improvement’ since 2019, but the Care Quality Commission (CQC) changed the score to ‘good’ following a routine visit in March.

Categories of effectiveness, caring and responsiveness were already rated as good, and now safe and well-led categories have also been increased to this score.

Inspectors praised an increase in staff, consistent care and improvements to safeguarding.

Carolyn Jenkinson, CQC’s deputy director of hospitals in the West Midlands, said: “When we visited Northampton General Hospital’s maternity service, we found leaders and staff had made real and meaningful improvements since our last inspection. Women told us they felt listened to and cared for, and they described staff as kind, supportive and reassuring throughout their maternity journey. One woman told us staff always took time to listen and make her feel comfortable, which is exactly the kind of experience we want everybody to have.

“Leaders had gained a much better grip on the service. They’d strengthened their management arrangements and were using data and feedback to drive continuous improvement, rather than just collecting it.

“Staff felt confident raising concerns and knew leaders would listen, which meant leaders could pick up and deal with problems early instead of letting them grow.”

Inspectors also praised the team’s work being ‘highly commended’ in a national award category for the most improved unit, something they said was a ‘real credit’ to everyone involved.

Ms Jenkinson added: “Safeguarding was another notable strength. Staff understood their responsibilities well and knew how to raise concerns quickly, which helped keep women and babies safe from harm. We also saw excellent teamwork between different staff groups, so women didn’t have to repeat their story every time they saw someone new.

“Leaders and staff should be proud of the improvements we found at this inspection, and we look forward to seeing their further progress.”

Between 2023 and 2026, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust – which runs the maternity service, increased its midwifery workforce from 144 to 188 full-time equivalent posts.

While the report was mostly positive, it did flag that the service still relied on bank staff to maintain safe staffing levels, and some women experienced delays.

The trust says it has plans to address these issues and continue improving.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire’s Group Director of Midwifery, Danni Burnett, said: “I am incredibly proud of our maternity team and pleased the significant improvements we have made have been recognised by the CQC. “This reflects the hard work, commitment and professionalism of colleagues across our service who are dedicated to providing safe, compassionate care for women, babies and families.

“We have listened carefully to feedback from women, families and staff, and used this to strengthen leadership, improve how we use data and learning, and enhance teamwork across our maternity services. It is particularly encouraging that women told the CQC they felt listened to, supported and cared for throughout their maternity journey.

“While we are proud of the progress achieved, we remain committed to continual improvement and providing the highest standard of care. We will continue to explore ways to broaden choice and work collaboratively with our communities and partners to shape and develop our services.

“I would like to thank every member of the team for their dedication and for making this achievement possible.”

While the rating for maternity services has improved, the overall rating of Northampton General Hospital remains as requiring improvement.