Maternity services at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust have been ranked in the top five of all Trusts nationally in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) 2025 National Maternity Survey.
The results show overwhelming public confidence, reflecting a high level of safe, caring, and responsive maternity service. The Trust achieved one of the highest overall positive scores among participating organisations, with an overall positive scare of approximately 92.5%. Crucially, Gateshead scored better than the national average on 22 questions.
In a period of national scrutiny and concern regarding maternity this feedback from women and families who were cared for by Gateshead’s maternity service in early 2025 is a testament to our staff’s commitment to high quality care.
Compassion and high-quality care
Pregnant people and families consistently praised staff for their compassion, respect, and individualised care. Key findings across the maternity journey included:
- Nearly all patients gave top marks in areas like being treated with dignity, listened to, and involved in decisions about their care.
- Women reported feeling safe and supported throughout childbirth. In one of the most significant positive variances, 94% felt their concerns during labour were taken seriously, which is significantly above the national average.
- Feedback was very strong on postnatal care, with women noting staff kindness and excellent pain management. The Trust was also highly rated for its out-of-hours support, with a 12-point advantage over the national average for providing feeding advice during evenings or weekends.
Committed to continuous improvement
While these results offer reassurance that choosing to give birth at Gateshead means receiving top-quality care, the Trust remains committed to continuous improvement. The only area where the Trust scored significantly below average was the ability of partners to stay as long as they wanted to after the birth. This is currently limited by the physical accommodation of the maternity buildings. We are actively looking at policies and solutions to address this and other areas, such as enhancing postnatal follow-up contact, to ensure every family has the best possible birth experience.
“This national number one ranking is a direct testament to the dedication, expertise, and compassion of our hardworking midwives, doctors, and support teams.
“Choosing to give birth at Gateshead means choosing a service marked by safety, dignity, and individualised care. We are committed to maintaining and building upon these standards to ensure every family feels fully supported, from early pregnancy right through to going home with their new baby.”
Karen Parker, Associate Director of Midwifery/SCBU at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust