One of the best in the country!

Tomorrow (as I do every three months) I will be chairing the Maternity Services Liaison Committee for Cornwall. I am particularly looking forward to this one because the Healthcare Commission has identified Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust as having one of the very best Maternity Services in the UK.

I was interviewed by the Healthcare Commission as part of their study last year along with various members of staff and alongside a survey of mothers themselves. It was a nerve racking experience as maternity services in Cornwall have undergone major changes in the 12-18 months. The service that women receive has been transformed, enabling women to have continuous care from their local team from booking in right through to delivery, but also changing practices that have been in place for over 15 years.

Not only that but the building in which the maternity wing is based is barely fit for purpose. When I began sitting on the MSLC nearly three years ago we were talking about plans for a new wing. Sadly, with the crippling debt RCHT is under those plans were shelved sometime ago and a re-vamp of the current building is now underway with wards being juggled around the building to allow for the work to be done.

When the Healthcare commission came down it was in the midst of such a shuffle. It is a testament to the staff of our maternity services that we have done so well. The commitment that I see, both through the MSLC and through my daily work with midwives is unquestionable and whilst the changes to working practice were difficult, the teams around the county and at the hospital have obviously come through with flying colours.

One area of the report was not so brilliant however, when marking post-natal care of women we scored only 1 out of 5 (5 being the highest). For my project, Real Baby Milk, this is cause for concern as those early days post-birth are the most critical for breastfeeding.

That said, it is always good to have an area for improvement but my sincere congratulations to Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust will be conveyed at the Committee meeting tomorrow.