A NEW £1.5 million birth centre is to open at Warrington Hospital early next year.
The mid-wife led facility will be located at Croft Wing, on the ground floor at the former ward C22.
It is an addition to the Trust’s existing compliment of maternity services which include midwife-led service, community midwife-supported home birthing and obstetric-led care for higher-risk mums.
Chief nurse Kimberley Salmon Jamieson said: “The Trust board approved the £1.5m investment in maternity services earlier this year as part of our capital plan and work is to start this month.
“Over 3,000 babies are born through our maternity service each year and the addition of the new rooms will mean that even more women have even more choice of how and where they give birth.
“This investment is in line with the national ‘Better Births’ report arising from the five-year national review of maternity services conducted by Baroness Cumberledge who set the vision for maternity services in England: ‘We should work together across organisational boundaries in larger place-based systems to provide a service that is kind, professional and safe, offering women informed choice and a better experience by personalising their care.’
The four new birthing rooms are designed to be welcoming and comfortable and as unlike a hospital as possible. Focused around state-of-the-art birthing pools, the birthing suites will feature sofas, birthing cubes, cushions and wall art with mood lighting; music and candles complementing the birth experience and providing a relaxed, peaceful entrance to the world.
Associated chief nurse – midwifery, Tracey Cooper said:
“We are so excited about the new unit. We aim to give our women a completely personalised experience and outcomes show that births are less likely to need intervention and transfers to a medical setting when women give birth in midwife-led units.”
The new birth centre will also be a community hub and home of the community midwifery team which will ensure continuity of care as small teams will work closely together so that each expectant mother will know her supporters in preparation for her labour.
Midwife and antenatal appointments will also be held at the centre and women can choose this option instead of being seen at their nearest GP practice or Sure Start centre.
Aromatherapy, acupuncture and massage will promote a feeling of calm and relaxation.
Following birth a new post-natal suite will enable partners to stay overnight in comfortable surroundings with their new family in en-suite rooms. Contemporary cots, side tables, changing tables, soft lighting and luxurious bedding will make this room feel like a special home from home.
In 2017 the Trust’s Maternity Service was awarded “Maternity Service of the Year” by the Royal College of Midwives which prompted a visit by royal patron The Princess Royal in May last year. More recently CQC inspectors awarded the maternity service a “Good” rating across all key lines of enquiry for being safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.
“We are giving families the very best start on their journey together in every way,” said Ms Jamieson
“Our priority is to ensure that every woman receives the best possible personalised care and experience during their time with us.”
The hospital’s charity WHH Charity will simultaneously launch a new fundraising campaign to provide those “above and beyond” extras to make the pregnancy-birth-post-natal experience the best it can be.
