Local healthcare trust selected to join national improvement network
Northern Devon Healthcare Trust has been selected from over 50 applicant Trusts to join a national network for best practice in safe births, under a new initiative announced by health charity, The King’s Fund, this week.
Following a rigorous selection process, the Trust is one of just 12 successful applicant trusts across England and is the only representative from the South West region.
Northern Devon Healthcare Trust’s maternity service is officially ranked as ‘Best Performing’ by healthcare watchdog, The Healthcare Commission. As part of the new ‘Safer Births Improvement Network’, the Trust will be further enhancing its service to mothers and babies.
And these enhancements will go on to inspire other Trusts across England under the programme, which is designed to develop and share best practice.
The Trust already pioneers a multidisciplinary approach to its maternity team, with close working between midwives, doctors, anaesthetists, paediatricians and other specialists. As a member of the country-wide network, Northern Devon Healthcare Trust will look at how to foster excellent communication among different disciplines in the team – ensuring mothers get the best possible service.
Jac Kelly, Chief Executive of Northern Devon Healthcare Trust, said: ‘We’re delighted to be selected for this new initiative. The success of our application confirms our position as one of England’s leading Trusts in the field of maternity care. It comes as deserved recognition of our outstanding maternity services team. Most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to build our excellent track record in providing the safest, highest quality services to women and babies in North Devon.
Sally Scott, Senior Midwife, said: ‘It’s fantastic news for our mums and babies that we’ll now be drawing in national expertise directly from partners such as the Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – all tailored to our specific needs here in North Devon. We’re proud of our maternity service and being selected for the network will allow us to make it better still’.
Mark Jennings, Director of Healthcare Improvement at The King’s Fund, said: ‘There is no doubt that maternity services are introducing new ways of working that should improve the safety of care provided to mothers and babies. We want to build on the local innovation we know is happening around the country and ensure this best practice spreads to all maternity units. We believe these approaches to ensuring safe services will inspire other maternity professionals’.
