15 Steps for Maternity
Download (PDF 1.44 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Calderdale and Healthwatch Kirklees worked with the Calderdale and Huddersfield Maternity and Neonatal Voices to undertake a 15 Steps review of local maternity services at Calderdale Royal Hospital.
Welcome and informative
Feedback consistently referred to how welcoming, helpful and friendly staff members were. Some areas had a very welcoming feel. However signage needed improving and there was a lack of information in any language other than English.
Safe and clean
Visitors said all areas felt safe ‘as a whole’. All areas were described as clean, there was a safe space for siblings to use on the neonatal unit with some books particularly for them.
Antenatal and birthing rooms are spacious, but there is less space postnatally and particularly on the neonatal unit. There was only one parent bedroom in use and no dedicated room for expressing milk.
Friendly and personal
There was a wealth of praise for friendly staff members in all areas, and staff were observed engaging with women and families in a positive way too. The quiet room on the neonatal unit has a “beautiful imitation window”.
Visitors liked that there were spaces where women and families could make/access food and drink, books for siblings in the family room and the availability of breakfast, snacks, and sandwiches for parents on the neonatal unit.
Organised and calm
The information in Calderdale birth centre felt appropriate for the area, and not overwhelming. All areas felt calm: the postnatal ward was described as “peaceful even though there were lots of people around” and the neonatal ICU “was calm even when a baby was being admitted”.
The report contains 14 recommendations.