The maternity services at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust have achieved a higher safety standard.

The services have progressed from Level 1 to Level 2 of the NHS Litigation Authority’s Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (Maternity Standards).

The initiative – which has a total of three levels – measures the way such departments manage safety and risk, essentially to ensure services are as safe as possible.

The news comes following a two-day assessment of the maternity units at Epsom and St Helier hospitals.

Dr Rim El-Rifai, is the clinical director for women and children's services at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.

"Since 2008, our maternity departments progressed to achieve Level 1 and now Level 2, so we have come on in leaps and bounds in a very short amount of time,” she said.

"However, we cannot be complacent and there are of course areas where we can improve.

“A real strength of the team - and a big part of its success - is that we continuously strive to improve the care we provide to parents-to-be, new babies and their families.

"I am now looking forward to building on this achievement and working towards attaining level 3 within the next few years."

Reaching Level 2 means that the trust’s maternity and neonatology units are now eligible for a 20% reduction in the amount of money they pay annually in insurance premiums.

This is worth £893,000 per year.