News and updates on our Maternity Services
You can find information here about improvements to our maternity services, as well as updates on our progress.
On this page
We have proactively requested and welcomed reviews into our services – including from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – which are now helping us to learn more quickly and make changes.
A lot of work is underway already to help us get there. We will use this page to share publicly what we are doing and to provide updates on our progress.
If you have concerns – talk to us
Most recent updates
Maternity CQC Inspection Report published
The recent report from the Care Quality Commission has recognised areas where our maternity services are improving, while also making clear that there is more work to do.
The overall rating for Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s maternity services has improved from Inadequate to Requires Improvement, reflecting the substantive progress made by the Trust in strengthening services for women, babies and families.
The assessment found that Stroud Maternity Unit has improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all domains, recognising the safe, personalised and compassionate care delivered by the unit. The areas identified for improvement were relatively limited and primarily concerned governance processes around incidents and medicines.
We are pleased that CQC has recognised the significant progress made by our maternity teams and reflects the dedication, professionalism and compassion of our staff, who work every day to provide safe, personalised care for women and their families.
You can find a link to the reports on the Improving our maternity services section on our website under news, updates and reports.
The inspection took place almost a year before publication of the report, and improvement work has continued throughout that period. We have a maternity improvement programme focused on safety, quality, leadership, workforce development and the experience of women and families.
Listening is an important part of this work. We are particularly pleased that women who spoke to inspectors described such positive experiences of care and support. However, we are especially grateful to women and families who have shared difficult experiences with us. We know this is not always easy, but their honesty is helping us understand where care has fallen short and what needs to change.
We are sorry for the worry, frustration or loss of confidence some families have experienced, and we are determined to listen, learn and improve.
Maternity services matter to us because the women, babies and families of Gloucestershire matter to us. We are proud to care for our community, and we are determined to keep improving so that every family feels safe, listened to, respected and supported at one of the most important times in their lives.
We know that improvement is a continuous process and we welcome the CQC scrutiny as it helps us stay focused on changes that matter most to women, babies, families and staff. We will use the findings of this report to build on our progress and continue strengthening maternity services across Gloucestershire.
Introductions
We are pleased to introduce our new Director of Midwifery Zita Martinez, Deputy Director of Midwifery Nicola Moore, and Consultant Midwife Claire Litchfield. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to improving care for women, babies and families across Gloucestershire.
Zita says, “Having joined Gloucestershire recently, I've been incredibly impressed by the dedication of our maternity teams and the progress already made. I'm excited to support colleagues as we continue to transform services for women, babies and families."
We encourage women and families to continue sharing their experiences with us, either through our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) or through the independent Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP).
Previous updates
National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation Report published
The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation report, led by Baroness Amos, has been published.
You can read our response at https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/about-us/news-media/press-releases-statements/national-maternity-and-neonatal-investigation-report-published/
April 2026: Gloucestershire Maternity Services update
Read the April 2026 update on community midwifery, including Stroud Maternity, Home Births and the Cheltenham Birth Centre.
Frequently asked questions on Stroud Maternity, Home Births and Cheltenham Birth Unit.
February 2026: Results of the 2025 CQC National Maternity Survey
2025 National Maternity Survey highlights positive steps in service improvement
December 2025: Joint Trust and ICB statement about maternity care
18 November 2025: Home birth suspension extended
6 November 2025: Temporary suspension of Home Births
15 September 2025: update on the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
Gloucestershire included in National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
30 July 2025: update on the Aveta Birth Unit at Cheltenham General
1 July 2025: Statement in response to the announcement of a National Maternity Investigation
Response to the announcement of a National Maternity Investigation