Mums across the Black Country are being given an opportunity to share their experience of maternity care by taking part in a national survey which will help their local NHS Trusts target improvements.

The CQC 2023 Maternity Survey is aimed at those whose babies are born in January, February and March of this year. It is confidential and anonymous and taking part is voluntary.

The quality and safety of maternity services in England is its focus and it will ask for feedback on antenatal care, labour and birth and postnatal care.

Helen Hurst is Clinical Director of Midwifery for the Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS), and she is urging mums to take up the chance to give their feedback.

She said: “The survey is an important one as it gathers views on a range of key areas including how you were treated, how you were able to make choices and be involved in decisions about your care and whether you had confidence and trust in the staff supporting you.

“The results will help us to specifically target any areas of concern or further enhance those areas in which we are doing well as well as help us to shape staff training. We appreciate mums taking the time to share their experiences in this way as it complements the ongoing engagement carried out through our Maternity Voices Partnerships across the Black Country.”

Mums invited to take part will be sent a letter from the NHS Trust where they received their maternity care with a paper questionnaire and a link to complete the survey online. The letter will explain how to take part in an alternative format such as a different language or easy read. Results will be published on the CQC website later this year.