Enter and view: Helme Chase Maternity Unit, Westmorland General Hospital
Summary of report content
Healthwatch Westmorland with Furness was commissioned by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership to assess patients' experience of maternity care. They undertook an enter and view of Helme Chase Maternity Unit at Westmorland General Hospital on 4 March 2024. They spoke to 6 patients and 6 staff.
Generally the patients were very happy with the care they received, feeling safe and well cared for by staff. They were also kept informed about decisions made on their care.
Staff were friendly, professional and approachable when interacting with patients and were observed knocking before entering consulting rooms.
The Unit had two entrances with a designated drop off point for expectant mums outside the entrance. Accessible and payable parking was available nearby.
The unit felt welcoming, peaceful and calm. It was light, spacious and well equipped. The waiting areas were spacious. Information on all aspects of maternity and neonatal care was available but not in different formats.
The report contains seven recommendations and a response from the provider.
The report can be found here.