On Monday 1 July one of the places where women go to give birth will switch to a new area at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to allow for planned building works.
The Central Delivery Suite (CDS) is relocating to Wolferton Ward which has been specifically repurposed to deliver the same service to families when they arrive to give birth. The Midwife Led Birthing Unit (MLBU) and Butterfly Suite will also be moved to the same place.
Wolferton is on the first floor in Area 7 next to Rudham Ward and there will be signs put in place throughout the main corridors to direct people to the right place.
The new CDS will have individual delivery rooms, along with the ability to have birthing pools set up in two of the rooms if needed. The area will also have a private dedicated space to mirror the Trust’s Butterfly Suite.
Patients are being sent a video to show them how to find the new delivery suite along with new instructions and signage to help direct them.
Esther Dorken, Interim Head of Midwifery and Nursing said: “We understand that women, birthing people and their families may have some anxiety about how to get to the new CDS and we are doing all we can to make this journey as easy as possible.
“This relocation is essential to allow for safety work to take place in our current delivery suite. Our new area has been designed with our maternity team to ensure it has everything we need to deliver the same service to families when they arrive to give birth.
“This move will take place over two days, depending on the demand on our service, and our team will be on hand to support parents throughout. The safety of our patients is always our top priority.”
If you have any pregnancy concerns or think you are in labour, please contact the QEH Triage team on 01553 614829.
Ends.
Notes to editors; For media enquires only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
QEH Media Hub 