Maternity services at William Harvey Hospital (WHH) in Ashford and at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate were upgraded from inadequate to good.
Serena Coleman, CQC's deputy director of operations in Kent, said ‘significant improvements' were found and a better quality service for women and their babies.
‘This turnaround in ratings across both services demonstrates what can be achieved with strong and capable leaders who focus on an inclusive and positive culture,' Coleman added.
The deputy director said staffing and culture had improved at both hospitals with women feeling well-supported throughout birth with one QEQM mother describing how a midwife had stayed after her shift to provide continuous support during a difficult labour.
Coleman noted leaders had taken steps to improve the physical environment where able to with safety risks posed by the estate being managed more effectively. Concerns remained, however, around labour rooms not being big enough to include essential equipment such as infant resuscitaires.
Michelle Cudjoe, director of midwifery and nursing, said: ‘The teams have worked tirelessly to drive the improvements captured in these reports. I would like to add my thanks to everyone who works in the team. This is a maternity service that has come a long way in a short period of time and I am delighted that the impact of their efforts has been recognised by the regulator in this way.'
The trust said it had been given £1.8m to progress a business case for the development of the maternity unit at QEQM, which will increase the size of labour rooms and provide a second obstetric theatre for caesarean sections. It also intends to extend the maternity triage area in the next phase of refurbishment at WHH.
There has also been investment in the relocation and refurbishment of the bereavement suite at WHH and the Twinkling Stars suite, which is a dedicated area for families located away from the busy Labour ward. The work is being funded by donations to East Kent Hospitals Charity and opens soon.
