- NHS hospital
The York Hospital
Assessment report published 3 September 2026
Ratings - Maternity
Our view of the service
The York Hospital maternity unit is part of the family health care group and undertakes around 3000 deliveries a year. It comprises a labour ward with 10 labour/birthing rooms, a 24 bedded antenatal/postnatal ward, a triage area, antenatal clinic, and theatres. The community midwifery team and midwifery specialists support the hospital and women.
As part of this assessment, we conducted an on-site visit of maternity services at The York Hospital on 14 and 15 April 2026 due to an aged rating.
We assessed all quality statements from the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions.
The onsite assessment team included 3 CQC inspectors, 3 CQC specialist advisors and 1 CQC regulatory coordinator. We reviewed 5 sets of patient clinical records and spoke with 33 members of staff and a minimum of 17 patients. We attended safety briefs, Midwife handovers and ward rounds. We visited the labour ward, antenatal unit and postnatal wards, maternity triage service, antenatal services, labour theatres and community midwifery services.
We refer to women in this report, but we recognise some transgender men, non-binary people, and people with variations in sex characteristics (VSC) or who are intersex may also use services and experience some of the same issues.
At the last inspection of the service there were 16 breaches of regulation identified in safe care and treatment, premises and equipment, good governance, and staffing.
In this assessment we found continuing breaches of regulation in Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment), Regulation 15 (premises and equipment), and Regulation 18 (Staffing).
We found a breach of regulation in relation to Regulation 16 - Receiving and Acting on Complaints.
We rated the service overall as: Good
The service had made improvements and is no longer in breach of some regulations. Staff assessed and mitigated risks. Care plans guided safe practice. Oversight of the service had improved.
In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded, if the action has been taken forward. Or, if we have requested an action plan, this will be requested upon publication of the final report.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with approximately 17 women whilst we were on-site. Overall, women were positive about the care and treatment they received. Women consistently told us staff were kind, supportive, and listened to their concerns, and provided personalised care. Overall, women described their care as good to excellent.
Most women confirmed they had a named midwife and found it easy to contact them when needed and felt they had enough information to make decisions about their care, including birth planning.
Women described staff respecting their privacy and dignity. Women told us staff asked permission before examinations and explained what they were doing.
Women told us their partners or chosen support people were included in discussions about care.
A small number of women reported long waiting times for some appointments.