What is the survey?

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have undertaken a survey of the experience of people who gave birth in the NHS between 1 and 28 February 2022. The survey also covered births in January 2022 if that particular trust did not have a minimum of 300 eligible births in February.

The survey covered 20,927 people who had given birth with a response rate of 46.5%.

The findings

Positively, the survey found that there had been an upward trend in people who had just given birth reporting that there was no delay in their discharge from hospital (up to 62% from 55% in 2022).

The report also found a positive outcome with regard to the mental health support received by people who were pregnant and had just given birth.

71% of people said that their midwife asked about their mental health during antenatal check-ups. This had increased from 69% in 2021 and 67% in 2019.

85% of people also said they were given enough mental health support during their pregnancy. This had increased from 83% in 2021.

96% of people also said that their midwife or health visitor supported their mental health during their postnatal care. Again, this had increased from 95% in 2021 and 2019.

The CQC recognises in the summary of the findings that there remains room for improvement in mental health care during and after pregnancy.

Despite the positive outcomes noted, the review also unfortunately found many areas that require improvement across the NHS trusts. These include:

Availability of staff

The number of people who reported that they were able to obtain help from a midwife during antenatal care, in hospital and postnatally reduced.

Fewer than half (45%) of people surveyed said they were able obtain help with feeding their baby during evenings, nights, or weekends. This figure has seen a downward trend since 2017 when it was 56%.  

Confidence & Trust

Sadly, the survey showed that people who were pregnant and giving birth reported a downtrend in the confidence and trust that they had in staff.

This included only 71% of people who said that they definitely had confidence and trust in the midwifery team. A reduction from 73% in 2017.

There has also been a downward trend in people reporting that they were always treated with kindness whilst in hospital after giving birth. This has reduced from 74% to 71%.

Communication

Another downward trend was seen in people who reported feeling that they were given enough support during pregnancy.

Most concerning was the downward trend in people who felt that they would be taken seriously if they raised a concern during labour or birth. This has decreased from 81% in 2017 to 77% in 2022.

What will be the outcome?

It is hoped that conducting such surveys will allow maternity services across the whole NHS to be improved.

Recent maternity investigations in East Kent, Shrewsbury & Telford, and Nottingham have highlighted that failures in maternity care are not restricted to one area or one NHS trust.

At Moosa-Duke Solicitors we hope that surveys such as these help to ignite positive change in maternity services across the NHS. It is also pleasing to see that people who have engaged with maternity services feel that mental health support is available, and that the support for maternal mental health is improving. 

The CQC has reported that the results will be used to build an understanding of the risk and quality of services provided.

The results of the survey for your local NHS Trust can be found here – https://nhssurveys.org/all-files/04-maternity/05-benchmarks-reports/2022/

If you have concerns about the maternity care that you or a family member has received, please contact our specialist team for a no-obligation consultation on 0116 254 7456 or at enquiries@moosaduke.com.