MATERNITY services in Worcestershire hospitals have impressed independent assessors.

The assessment of maternity services in Worcestershire hospitals was held in February over two days with the local service rated at level two.

Level one is the lowest rating and level three the highest.

The assessment, part of the maternity clinical negligence scheme, is carried out by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA), an organisation which works with all NHS hospitals and primary care trusts to identify problems and stop them happening.

The maternity standards were launched last April and the NHSLA looks at five core standards connected to organisation, clinical care, high risk conditions, communication and postnatal and newborn care.

The assessment shows that Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, complied with 90 per cent of standards.

The trust’s success means it has been awarded a £500,000 discount on voluntary financial contributions to the scheme.

Helen Blanchard, director of nursing and midwifery at the trust, said at the last meeting at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch on Thursday: “The assessors gave excellent feedback, very positive, and said it was one of the best assessments they had ever undertaken.”

Chief executive John Rostill said the assessors identified that ‘positive risk management’ was part of the culture of the trust.

He said everyone involved should be congratulated.