Director of Midwifery & Gynaecology, Michele and some of her amazing team.
We are thrilled to announce that, following CQC’s 2021 survey of women’s experiences of maternity care in England, our Trust was rated the second most improved Maternity Unit in England and seventh best Maternity Unit overall in the country.
The survey received responses from 23,479 women who had a baby in February last year and it covers all aspects of maternity provision; antenatal care, care during labour and birth and post-natal care. There were 122 acute NHS trusts that took part.
Michele Ahluwalia, our Director of Midwifery & Gynaecology, said "Positive service user feedback is one of the best indicators, along with mother and baby outcomes, of the quality and safety of our Maternity Services. It is also an indicator of how compassionate and caring we all are. The 2021 National Maternity Patient Safety Survey presents one of the most positive results for many years and most possible ever seen at Darent Valley Hospital. This is an amazing achievement, considering the unit’s challenges during the pandemic and balancing women’s choices with the safety of families and staff. Every week we receive the most amazing feedback, pregnancy and birth stories of appreciation from women and their families. This level of patient satisfaction is made possible by the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the whole multi-professional Maternity Team and the results are a credit to you all. I am extremely proud of you all and of our Maternity Unit."