The measurement and improvement of maternity service performance through inspection and rating: An observational study of maternity services in acute hospitals in England

Abstract

Highlights The performance of maternity departments varies and is a policy concern. Inspection and ratings is a possible means to increase performance. Routinely collected data may help measure the performance of maternity departments. Using routine data, post-inspection performance was not associated with inspection scores. Inspection and rating do not stimulate improvement on the performance measures studied.

The state of care in England’s maternity services

“…Some trusts have been in the programme for several years, and some trusts that exited the programme have re-entered 8. An earlier observational study using routine data reported little evidence of improvement in lower performing maternity units on inspection ratings 9…”