NHS Lanarkshire has scooped a major national award at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards 2025.
The team took home the award for Maternity and Midwifery Services Initiative of the Year with its project ‘From Conception to Birth – A QI Journey Towards Holistic Antenatal Care’.
Dr Evelyn Ferguson, Clinical Director for Obstetrics, said: “Winning this award means so much to us but it is about far more than receiving a trophy. This work is about saving babies’ lives, supporting families and ensuring every woman receives the safest, most compassionate care possible.
“Our midwifery, obstetrics and wider teams have worked tirelessly to make this a reality and this award is a recognition of their dedication.”
The HSJ Patient Safety Awards are among the most respected accolades in healthcare, celebrating teams and organisations that go above and beyond to protect patients and improve safety standards.
With 213 finalists competing across 25 categories, the awards once again highlighted the innovation and commitment of healthcare professionals determined to improve standards of care.
Martin Hill, Chair of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “I am incredibly proud of our midwifery, obstetrics and wider teams for achieving this prestigious national recognition. This award is a reflection of their innovation, expertise and unwavering commitment to patient safety.
“Most importantly, it highlights the impact of their work in protecting the lives of babies and supporting families across Lanarkshire.”
Faced with an increasing rate of stillbirth during the Covid-19 pandemic, the NHS Lanarkshire team launched a programme to reverse this trend by enhancing care from conception to birth.
The team developed the Holistic Antenatal Care Pathway to provide women with optimal care and evidence-based interventions. Improvements included comprehensive risk assessments, maintaining continuity of care and enhancing patient education.
Leah Noble, Head of Midwifery, added: “This award proves that quality improvement really does make a difference. From the very start of pregnancy, our focus has been on safer, more personalised care.
“This win reflects the passion and professionalism of our teams.”
