Barnet Hospital “prepared well” for the recent expansion of its maternity ward, according to inspectors from an independent health watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) earlier this month conducted a routine inspection at the department, which was expanded in December following the closure of services at Chase Farm Hospital.

Inspectors praised staff and managers on the maternity ward at the Wellhouse Lane hospital for their handling of the “significant reconfiguration and expansion”.

The ward met all of the standards expected during the visit, and inspectors noted that “the trust had prepared effectively for the reorganisation of the service and arrival of numbers of new members of staff".

They added that the "quality of service provided to women and babies was maintained and the service was safe”.

Staff were praised for providing one-to-one care to the women on the ward and for keeping them informed of the processes and decisions being taken at each stage.

Inspectors found all areas of the maternity unit to be “clean and well-maintained, and infection prevention and control policies and procedures were implemented by staff.”

The report stated one woman commented to inspectors: “All the midwives were great, I was given lots of time and didn’t feel rushed”.

Another told them their midwife had been “compassionate throughout”.