University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has achieved a significant milestone, with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) raising the rating of all three of its maternity units to "good." This upgrade acknowledges substantial improvements in the quality of care, leadership, and staffing across the service. It marks a positive reversal for the Trust, which has actively worked to transform its maternity provision in light of national safety concerns.
CQC inspectors specifically commended the Trust's maternity leadership for increasing the number of midwives and specialist staff, which has enabled the service to deliver a "better standard of care" for women and families. This positive assessment reflects substantial progress rooted in targeted workforce investment and enhanced governance. The CQC's rating covers the standard inspection domains—safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led—with the "good" rating indicating consistent performance, driven by more robust staffing and leadership engagement.
Trust leaders, welcoming the upgrade, emphasised the central role of recruiting and retaining skilled staff, not only to meet regulatory standards but also to improve the experience and outcomes of care. Local maternity leaders highlighted sustained efforts to bolster staffing and support structures, including initiatives focused on midwifery recruitment, clinical supervision, and multidisciplinary collaboration across obstetrics, neonatology, and community care.
Clinicians and staff noted that investing in training, supervision, and team-based decision-making was crucial in fostering a supportive culture that enables the delivery of consistently high standards of care. The Trust’s interim chief executive stated that the rating “reflects our teams’ dedication to delivering safe, compassionate and high-quality maternity care.”
This achievement comes amidst a challenging national backdrop for maternity services in England, where high-profile reviews have repeatedly highlighted concerns over staffing, safety, and variation in standards. National strategies, such as the NHS Maternity Transformation Programme and the Three-Year Delivery Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Services, continue to prioritise workforce expansion, continuity of care models, and improved safety monitoring. Morecambe Bay's success underscores the significant impact of sustained investment in staff and leadership on regulatory outcomes, demonstrating how trusts can proactively respond to national calls for stronger maternity performance.
