A major survey of maternity service users in Ireland has revealed that in general, women were satisfied with their maternity care. However, there is major room for improvement, with many women not receiving adequate information at crucial times during their care.

The 2014 What Matters to You survey was carried out by the Association of Improvements in the Maternity Services Ireland (AIMS Ireland). Over 2,800 people responded, making it the largest consumer survey of maternity service users ever undertaken.

A similar survey was carried out by AIMS Ireland in 2010.

These latest findings show that the number of women who described their postnatal care as ‘poor' or ‘very poor' was 14 %, compared to 25% who rated it as ‘poor' in 2010.

However, the number of women who described their care during pregnancy as ‘excellent' also fell from 46% in 2010 to 39% in 2014. Furthermore, the number of women who described the information given to them during labour as ‘excellent' also fell from 36% in 2010 to 29% in 2014.

The survey found that the highest satisfaction ratings were associated with care during birth, with over 62% of women describing this as ‘excellent'. Over 54% of women also described their care during labour as ‘excellent' and 49% said that care of their newborn was ‘excellent'.

When it came to the information they received during different stages of their care, almost 15% described the information provided during labour as ‘poor' or ‘very poor'. Some 17% had the same response when it came to information provided during their postpartum care.

Meanwhile the survey also noted that three in four women were not given a patient satisfaction form to fill out after they had their baby. Among those who did receive one, most filled it in while still requiring maternity care. This is not best practice, AIMS Ireland noted.

"If women are not given an opportunity to rate their care - good, bad or indifferent - how can maternity care providers assess women's experiences? At present, if women want to voice their opinion they must take very proactive steps, usually by making a formal complaint.

"Most new mothers are either reluctant to, or not in a position to do this, and so a disconnect develops between the perception of the care provider and the reality experienced by the women," commented AIMS Ireland chairperson, Krysia Lynch.

She insisted that the new strategic review of maternity services ‘should consider the need for more formal auditing on satisfaction and patient experiences in the Irish maternity system'.

For more information on AIMS Ireland, click here

You can rate the care you received in any Irish maternity hospital on our Rate My Hospital site here