Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust's (BHRUT) maternity services have achieved a 'good' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), a significant improvement following previous concerns.
The Trust presented an update on the CQC inspections and patient surveys for its maternity services at a Health & Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Following a previous 'requires improvement' rating, which the CQC indicated was due to insufficient staffing levels – recommending a need for more midwives and maternity support workers than the then-current three midwives and one support worker model – the Trust implemented several interventions.
A reassessment in August 2025 resulted in a 'good' rating across four out of five CQC domains. We were reassessed by the CQC in August last year, and we got a good in four out of five domains. So that is a real improvement, something that we're all very proud of, and I think is a reflection of the huge amount of work that's gone on across the MDT to deliver our services better, provide better care for women,
stated a Trust representative.
Will Reynolds, Director of Operations for Women's and Children's, and Nick Cain, Chief Nurse at BHRUT, detailed the improvements made. These included increasing midwifery and healthcare support staff in maternity triage to a four midwives and two support workers model, and enhancing medical cover with a dedicated senior doctor in obstetric triage 24 hours a day. Monitoring processes were also significantly improved with a new dashboard and electronic patient record system, alongside the introduction of flow coordinators to manage patient movement through the unit. Furthermore, the maternity telephone helpline was revamped with a new standard operating procedure, queuing system, and messaging system to reduce risk.
BHRUT has also strengthened preconception support for women with diabetes. This includes a new preconception clinic for women with type 1 diabetes trying to conceive, ensuring they are optimised before conception. For pregnant women with diabetes, a new hybrid closed-loop pump service has been implemented. This service provides an insulin pump for those who do not have one, or switches those who do have a non-maternity-specific pump to a maternity-specific one, aiding in diabetes management and optimisation before birth.
In addition to the CQC inspection, a follow-up to the 2025 CQC patient survey was conducted in February 2026. While the results indicated areas for improvement, such as consistent birthplace choice discussions, mental health inquiries, and feeding information, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive regarding labour ward care. 100% of surveyed women reported staff introductions and clear explanations of procedures. Postnatal wards also showed high levels of kindness, dignity, and partner involvement. The Trust has built these areas for improvement into an existing action plan.
Regarding infant feeding support, a minority of women reported insufficient advice or support in the postnatal ward feedback. This has also been built into the action plan for improvement.
The Trust aims to maintain that improvement
and is focused on that
goal of achieving an 'outstanding' rating by 2030. Data supporting their claim of improvement includes the CQC reassessment in August 2025, where they achieved a 'good' rating in four out of five domains. A mini survey
conducted prior to the CQC patient survey also showed strong confidence and trust in staff, with all women in the antenatal ward feeling they had enough time to ask questions and reporting respectful care. Labour ward feedback was overwhelmingly positive,
with 100% of women who were surveyed said staff introduced themselves, helped them understand what was happening in labour.
The full details of the Trust's update can be found in the Public reports pack for the Health & Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Public reports pack
