The maternity team at the Royal United Hospital in Bath has once again been rated among the best in England for supportive and respectful care, according to the latest national survey.
A visit to the RUH last year from NHSE Chief Midwifery Officer Kate Brintworth | Photo © RUH
Results from the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) 2025 Maternity Survey show that women and birthing people who gave birth at the RUH in 2025 rated the hospital better or much better than most trusts across 28 key questions.
Respondents reported feeling listened to, respected and supported throughout their maternity journey, from antenatal appointments and labour to care on the postnatal ward.
The CQC survey, carried out annually, asks people who have recently used maternity services about their experiences of care, including information provision, communication, involvement in decisions and emotional support.
The RUH scored particularly highly in several areas, including:
- Choice and information: People felt well-informed when deciding where to give birth, with information provision rated much better than most trusts.
- Antenatal appointments: Respondents said they had enough time during check-ups to ask questions or discuss their pregnancy, and that any concerns raised were taken seriously.
- Support during labour: People reported receiving timely advice and support when contacting the hospital at the start of labour. Partners were able to be involved as much as they wished and concerns during labour were taken seriously.
- Staff communication and teamwork: Staff were praised for introducing themselves before examinations and speaking in a way that could be easily understood.
- Postnatal kindness and understanding: Care on the ward after birth was highlighted for kindness and understanding.
- Care after birth: Postnatal care also scored highly for staff listening, taking personal circumstances into account and involving people in decisions about their care.
The RUH also achieved strong results for mental health support during pregnancy and for respecting people’s decisions about feeding their babies.
Zita Martinez, Director of Midwifery at the RUH, said: “We are delighted to see such positive feedback from the people we care for.
“It reflects the dedication and compassion of our maternity team, who work tirelessly to provide safe, personalised care for every family.
“We listen and learn from every survey and this year we’ve really focused on how we can make postnatal care even better, so it’s especially pleasing to see we’d further improved lots of our scores in this area.
“Knowing that women and birthing people feel listened to, respected and supported throughout their journey is incredibly important to us.
“While these results are reassuring, we will continue to learn and improve so that every experience is the best it can be.”
