At a time of national concern around maternity safety, women and families in Gateshead are receiving high-quality, compassionate care.
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised as one of the top-performing Trusts in the country for maternity services, earning the highest scores for staff care in a recent Care Quality Commission survey of women who gave birth in early 2025.
The findings give local reassurance about maternity care in the area and help address the concerns raised about communication and support across maternity services nationally.
Gateshead Health achieved an overall positive score of approximately 92.5%, with families reporting exceptional levels of safety, compassion, and respect.
People who gave birth in Gateshead praised the individualised care, with strengths noted in staff kindness and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to care. Critically, the survey demonstrates that women felt constantly supported during labour: 90% of Gateshead mothers said they were not left alone at a time when they were worried during labour, significantly above the national average. Furthermore, 94% felt their concerns were taken seriously. Communication and involvement were also exemplary: 100% of women felt they had enough time to ask questions during antenatal check-ups and felt involved in decisions about their care. The Trust also outperformed the national average in providing support for infant feeding during evenings and weekends.
Karen Parker, Associate Director of Midwifery/SCBU at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We are incredibly proud of these results, which are a direct reflection of the individualised care our staff provide every day. To be ranked first nationally for our staff care is a huge achievement, and I want to credit our multidisciplinary teams who collaborate so effectively to ensure every birth is safe, supportive, and respectful.
“Key to this success is the compassion our staff show to women and their families, ensuring they are treated with dignity at all times. While we celebrate these strengths, we are also listening to feedback on where we can improve. We know that facilities for partners to stay overnight are a priority for families; while we are currently limited by the physical space within our buildings, we acknowledge this challenge and are committed to exploring ways to support families further.”
This outstanding achievement comes alongside success for the locality, with NHS Trusts across Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, and North Cumbria also receiving high praise from families. The 2025 survey results show a positive and reassuring picture for these areas, with local Trusts performing at or above national benchmarks in almost all sections.
