KINGSTON hospital's maternity ward has been ranked as the best in London by service users.

Kingston ranked best out of eighteen London health trusts for antenatal care, labour and birth and postnatal care in the National Maternity Survey 2021.

The survey asked UK mothers aged 16 or over who had a live birth at an NHS Trust in February 2021 to rate these aspects of their hospital care.

This meant that the survey taking place during the height of the pandemic - at a time when maternity units were short-staffed by up to 20% and restrictions on hospital visitors were slowly being eased.

Despite this, Kingston hospital ranked highly on the involvement of people close to the patient in their care - scoring around 6 points (out of 10) higher than the NHS average on one of these measures.

Overall, the Trust scored well on care during pregnancy (8.6), during labour and birth (8.8) and from hospital staff (8.6).

Its worst measure was care at the start of pregnancy, ranked 5.8 by patients - but still the highest score of the London trusts.

Responding to the news, Kingston Hospital and Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare's Chief Nurse, Nic Kane, said: "We are delighted with the results of the National Maternity Survey 2021, which reflect the great dedication of our maternity teams at a time of significant challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am proud of the outstanding care that my colleagues deliver on a daily basis to the women of South West London and their families, and I would to thank them for all that they do. I would also like to thank everyone who responded to the survey, your feedback is so important to us."

Kingston hospital supports an estimated 350,000 people across Kingston, Richmond, Roehampton, Putney and East Elmbridge.

13 babies are delivered in the hospital on an average day.

Findings from the survey of 242 mothers at Kingston hospital's maternity unit

Antenatal care:

- 100% said they were spoken to in a way they could understand

- 99% felt involved enough in decisions about their care

- 99% said they were given the help the needed by midwives

- 97% of service users said that had enough time to ask questions or discuss their pregnancy Experience of labour and birth: - 100% of staff introduced themselves during labour and birth

- 99% were spoken to in a way they could understand

- 97% felt they were involved in decisions about care

- 96% said a birthing partner was involved as much as wanted

Postnatal care:

- 99% of respondents felt listened to by midwives once they were back at home

- 97% said their found their decisions about to how to feed their baby were respected by midwives

- 96% had confidence and trust in postnatal midwives

- 88% of respondents found that their partner was able to stay with them as long as they wanted following birth