Hospitals
Hospitals – Harrogate and District NHS Hospital – Visit the website here
Harrogate Maternity Rated Good
Expectant parents in Harrogate and the surrounding district can feel reassured after maternity services at Harrogate District Hospital received a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The inspection confirms clear improvements since 2022 and highlights the hospital as a trusted choice for maternity care in North Yorkshire.
Key highlights at a glance
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Overall maternity rating: Good
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Safety & effectiveness: Improved to Good
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Care & compassion: Rated Good
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Leadership & culture: Rated Good
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Patient feedback: Positive, supportive, respectful
What’s improved since the last inspection?
The maternity unit, operated by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, was re-inspected in July following an earlier review that required improvements.
CQC inspectors found that:
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Safety incidents are properly investigated, with learning shared across teams
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Strong safeguarding arrangements are in place with partner organisations
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Staff have created a positive, open culture where concerns can be raised
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Women feel listened to, respected and supported throughout their care
One new parent told inspectors they “couldn’t praise their midwives enough” and felt calm and reassured by the support they received at home.
Are there any concerns?
Yes – and they’ve been clearly identified.
The CQC noted that waiting times in the maternity assessment centre were not always monitored closely enough. This meant some women experienced delays before being reviewed by a doctor.
The trust has already been informed and the CQC will continue to monitor progress to ensure improvements are embedded and sustained.
What hospital leaders say
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Jonathan Coulter, Chief Executive, welcomed the rating and said the report recognises the dedication of maternity staff while also highlighting areas to strengthen further.
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Breeda Columb, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, said she was “extremely proud” of the team and confirmed work is ongoing to improve personalised care for women, birthing people and families.
Why this matters locally
For families choosing where to give birth, a Good CQC rating means:
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Confidence in safe and professional maternity care
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Reassurance that concerns are taken seriously
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A service focused on kindness, respect and personalised support
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Ongoing investment in improvement and staff development
Thinking about maternity care in Harrogate?
You may also want to explore:
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Antenatal and postnatal services available locally
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Midwife-led care options
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Support available after returning home
- Hospitals
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New Acute Medical Unit opens at Harrogate District Hospital – Location: Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate HG2 7SX – Phone: 01423 885959
What it means for patients, families and staff
Patients across Harrogate and the surrounding district now have access to faster, calmer and more streamlined urgent medical care following the opening of a brand-new Acute Medical Unit (AMU) at Harrogate District Hospital.
Designed around patient needs, the new unit helps people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time — without the stress of a busy Emergency Department.
What is the Acute Medical Unit?
The AMU is a 24/7 assessment unit for adults who are acutely unwell and need urgent medical attention. Patients may be referred by:
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Their GP
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The Emergency Department
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Hospital outpatient services
Once referred, patients are assessed quickly and directed to the most appropriate care pathway.
Why it matters to patients
The new unit is designed to:
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Speed up assessment and treatment
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Reduce waiting times
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Avoid unnecessary hospital stays
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Get patients home safely, sooner
Many patients will be assessed, treated and discharged on the same day, while others will be transferred directly to specialist wards — avoiding delays and repeated assessments.
Care led by specialist teams
Patients are seen by a multidisciplinary team, bringing together:
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Specialist nurses
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Doctors with a range of expertise
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Allied health professionals
This joined-up approach ensures decisions are made quickly and care plans are tailored to each individual.
Inside the new unit
Located in the former Littondale Ward, the AMU represents a 30% increase in assessment capacity.
Key features include:
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32 beds across several bays
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Five en-suite side rooms
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Three enhanced care beds for higher-dependency patients
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Ambulatory care area encouraging mobility and recovery
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Comfortable recliner chairs for patients able to remain mobile
A calmer, more welcoming environment
The unit has been thoughtfully designed to improve patient experience, with:
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Sky tiles that simulate natural daylight
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Quiet, uncluttered spaces
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Improved ventilation and energy-efficient heating
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A focus on comfort, dignity and wellbeing
Smarter technology, faster responses
Modern digital systems help staff respond quickly, including:
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Smartcall nurse alert technology, sending instant notifications to staff devices when patients need assistance
A new multidisciplinary team office also supports closer collaboration between staff, improving communication and care coordination.
What the Trust says
Jonathan Coulter, Chief Executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:This new, state-of-the-art facility will be the first point of entry for many patients. Creating a calm, efficient environment helps reduce waiting times and supports staff to deliver the highest standards of care — especially as we head into the busy winter period.”
Charly Gill, Associate Director of Nursing, added:The AMU ensures every patient is directed to the right place, at the right time, to be cared for by the right person, away from the pressures of the Emergency Department.”
Part of a wider hospital transformation
The AMU builds on recent improvements at Harrogate District Hospital, including the opening of ED2 in late 2023, which has already helped reduce waiting times by separating minor injuries and illnesses from more serious emergencies.
In short:
✔ Faster assessments
✔ Safer, calmer care
✔ Less pressure on A&E
✔ Better outcomes for patients
The new Acute Medical Unit marks a major step forward in how urgent care is delivered in Harrogate — putting patients firmly at the centre of the experience.
Hospitals
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Location: Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate HG2 7SX – Phone: 01423 885959
Construction begins on new Day Case Surgery and Imaging Centre at Harrogate District Hospital one of the top hospitals in the UK
A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of work on a new Day Case Surgery and Imaging Centre for the Harrogate district has been held at Harrogate District Hospital.
The healthcare facility, which is being built by UK construction company Morgan Sindall, will provide additional capacity to meet the needs of patients waiting for surgery.
The ceremony, which took place on Friday 14 February and was led by Jonathan Coulter, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s (HDFT) Chief Executive, saw the first spades hitting the ground on the 18 month project.
Also in attendance were Sarah Armstrong, Chair of HDFT; Matt Graham, HDFT’s Director of Strategy; and representatives from HDFT, the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board; Harrogate Integrated Facilities (HIF); and Morgan Sindall.
The construction of the Day Case Surgery and Imaging Centre, which will be located on the site of the hospital’s old Therapy Services building, is being undertaken as part of a £50 million capital investment funded by HDFT and NHS England, which has also seen the removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) at the Harrogate District Hospital site.
The new two storey building will provide state-of-the-art surgical and imaging services. It will house two new operating theatres, two procedure rooms, a dedicated day case ward, and an advanced imaging department. The imaging facilities will feature two MRI scanners, two CT scanners, three x-ray rooms, seven ultrasound scanners, bone density (Dexa) scanning, and fluoroscopy, which provides real-time imaging of tissue and organs.
Jonathan Coulter, Chief Executive at HDFT said: “This is an exciting moment for our Trust and the people of our district as we break ground to officially start construction of our new Day Case Surgery and Imaging Centre.
“Once completed, the centre will serve our community for years to come. The new facilities will provide a much improved environment for patients and our staff, and will increase our elective capacity.
“We understand that people requiring treatment want to be seen as quickly as possible and being able to undertake more activity will bring down waiting times.
“We look forward to working with Morgan Sindall on this exciting project. This investment illustrates our hospital’s bright future and reflects our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of patients, children and communities and delivering the best possible care.”
Ben Hall, Morgan Sindall’s Area Director for Yorkshire, said: “Investment into crucial infrastructure such as this provides invaluable resource to the local community. This groundbreaking event was a great way to mark the important work that is beginning, and we are excited to use our expertise to make healthcare more accessible in the wider Harrogate area.”
Regular updates will be provided to keep residents and visitors informed about the project’s progress.
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Hospitals
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) has secured £1.4 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to acquire a new, cutting-edge MRI scanner, designed to advance diagnostic research and bolster the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. This investment will enhance diagnostic precision and increase access to innovative research, benefiting smaller hospitals in rural and coastal regions that often lack such resources.
HDFT stands among only 36 NHS organisations in England chosen to receive this NIHR funding, a strategic move to foster research equity in less well-resourced areas. The Trust’s new MRI scanner will support a range of pioneering studies, particularly those focused on leveraging AI to diagnose complex health conditions more effectively.
Having already positioned itself as a leader in Imaging AI, HDFT’s implementation of AI-driven fracture detection software significantly improves diagnostic turnaround times. This technology allows clinicians to assess X-ray images within approximately 30 seconds, enabling swift fracture identification and prioritisation of critical cases. With the new MRI scanner, the Trust will explore similar AI advancements in MRI diagnostics, facilitating quicker, more precise insights for clinical teams.
When not engaged in research, the MRI scanner will be available for routine clinical use, increasing imaging capacity and reducing waiting times for HDFT patients.
Dr. Jacqueline Andrews, Medical Director at HDFT and Executive Lead for Research and Innovation, praised the award, stating:
“Congratulations to the clinical teams for securing this vital funding to bring a dedicated research MRI scanner to HDFT. As a Trust, we are deeply committed to expanding our research and innovation capabilities, ensuring our patients in Harrogate and surrounding areas have the same access to cutting-edge clinical trials and advanced technologies as those near larger teaching hospitals.”
Dr. Andrews further highlighted the Trust’s commitment to research, mentioning that HDFT has already invested in a dedicated Clinical Research Facility and established an Innovation Hub. These additions have significantly increased patient participation in research and innovation studies, delivering tangible community benefits.
This latest funding strengthens HDFT’s commitment to research-driven healthcare and reinforces its mission to improve patient care by integrating advanced diagnostic technologies and expanding research opportunities across the region.
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Hospitals
Harrogate Hospitals
Based in the spa town of Harrogate, the Hospital boasts low waiting times, a newly renovated, state-of-the-art maternity suite and is home to the £9 million Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre. Our values of Respectful, Passionate and Responsible form the foundation of everything that we do. We aim to be an exceptional provider of healthcare and ensure excellence for our patients and their families each and every time.
The Trust’s Catering Team has been awarded the Food for Life Bronze Catering Mark from the Soil Association for the provision of patient and staff meals. This means that our meals are fresh, healthy, sustainable and meet the nutritional elements of the Government Buying Standards. Find out more about our inpatient catering service.
Herriot’s Restaurant
Herriot’s is our main restaurant and is open to patients, visitors and staff. The restaurant provides a traditional breakfast, a variety of hot and cold lunches and evening meals, a salad bar, both made-to-order and pre-packed sandwiches as well as snacks and beverages. Our seven-day carvery meal deal is a firm favourite among patients and staff, and vegetarian options are always available.
Herriot’s Restaurant also offers gluten free options and healthy choices of 500 calories or less.
The restaurant is located on the first floor of Harrogate District Hospital. Our opening times are:
Please note that Herriot’s accepts card payments.
Coffee shop
There is a coffee shop at the main entrance. With a number of tables and a small garden, it’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy a cup of tea or a slice of cake when you need to refuel.
The opening hours for the coffee shop are:
Monday-Friday: 8am-4pm
The coffee shop accepts both cash and card payments.
WHSmith
WHSmith runs a small shop in the main entrance, next to reception. The shop sells a selection of newspapers, magazines, flowers, books and snacks. Card is accepted on all payments. The shop’s opening hours are:
Monday-Friday: 7.30am-7pm
Saturday-Sunday: 9am-4pm
Christmas 2019 opening hours:
Christmas Eve: 7.30am-3pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: 7.30am-3pm
New Year’s Day: Closed
All other days open as normal.
Harrogate Hospitals
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BMI The Duchy Hospital – Visit the website here
Location: Queen’s Road, Harrogate HG2 0HF – Phone: 01423 567136
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Ripon and District Community Hospital – Visit the website here
Location: Firby Lane , Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 2PR – Phone: 01423 542900
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Harrogate Hospitals
