Bristol hospital is one of the safest places to give birth in England
The maternity unit at Bristol's St Michael's is one of the safest places in the country to give birth.
The department has been through a rigorous assessment and passed with "flying colours".
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More than 5,000 women give birth at the city centre hospital trust every year and they can now be assured that the unit is in the top 20 per cent in the country.
The National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA), which acts as a type of insurance scheme for hospitals, has awarded University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol) the highest level possible for standards in its maternity unit.
They did not drop a point during the scoring for the checks carried out.
The premium paid to cover the hospital trust against litigation will be 30 per cent lower than if they were at a lower standard and the money can then go back into patient care.
Consultant obstetrician and clinical governance lead Bryony Strachan said: "We are really proud of everybody.
"I think mums want high quality care from a unit and to feel safe."
Patient safety manager, Janet Pollard said: "We passed with flying colours and the feedback was that we did very well.
"It feels fantastic and is a real achievement for everybody."
The assessment was carried out by the NHSLA on February 4 and 5 and UHBristol has now been informed that they passed the visit and were among the first few trusts to achieve the new level three standard.
Every trust that goes for the level three standard is assessed in 50 different areas. They include staff training, planning for emergencies and safety.
The hospital is among only a handful in the country to have been tested against the new risk management standards.
Chief executive of NHSLA, Steve Walker, congratulated the team.
He said: "Achieving level three is important because it means they are demonstrating that they are working to the very highest standards."
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by Karen, Bristol South
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 9:58AM
“I am a Doula and have witnessed some fab midwifery at St Mikes. I also think its a shame that a positive report is about `safety' not `care standards' (of course the Insurers would be happy if no-ones suing!) The culture of fear of litigation is a reason that things can end up more medicalised than might be necessary. St Mikes should be praised for all the times the midwives let and even encourage women to birth their way; not according to the best way to keep anyone off their backs.”
by A Nonny Mouse, Bristol
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 2:57PM
“Having seen the shocking situation in the maternity department there, I'm left wondering what exactly was including in the "rigorous assessment". Midwives failing to abide by basic NICE guidelines, dirty rooms and remnants of previous occupants, consultants failing to check patient history before giving "advice" which would have been to the contrary, the list goes on.....
Maybe their "rigorous assessment" was carried out when they were able to brief the staff to actually do their jobs properly first, we'll never know...”
by Sally, Bristol
Sunday, March 14 2010, 11:10PM
“I too had all four of my children at southmead... But I'm affraid to say standards have dropped heavily since then.... The reception staff on the delivery suite all need to take some chill pills, and one midwife in particular needs to sort her attitude to the patient and their family out... To add to that the staff on quantock ward were terrible, all I saw was them chatting among them selves.. Nothing like when I had my kids... I do not reccomend any new mums using southmead at all”
by anon, south glous
Sunday, March 14 2010, 10:45PM
“My wife had all 7 of her children in southmead and she had first class service with all it was clean tidy and well staffed my sister-in -law had hers at st micheals and was left alone for an hour in which time she bleed very heavy”
by Karen, Bristol
Sunday, March 14 2010, 7:32PM
“Having had both my children here (one only 6 months ago)-I can agree that St Michaels staff are caring, professional and on the ball.
I was an incredibly nervous patient and they did everything in their power to help and reassure me through two difficult labours.
Congratulations to the team.”