The refurbished Maternity Unit at Harrogate Hospital was officially opened on Friday 9 October by Green Hammerton mum Lena Knowles, who was the first mum to have a water birth in the unit, and Cathy Warwick CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives.
Mums who have given birth in the unit – where work was completed in August 2015 – were invited along with their families.
This exciting project has enhanced the environment and expands the services already provided. The funding for the work has come from the Department of Health to improve privacy and dignity.
Work carried out to improve facilities includes:
- The creation of a Maternity Assessment Centre, including the upgrading of a bathroom to a wet room.
- The installation of a bigger pool and total redecoration of the pool room.
- Installation of mood lighting which changes to reflect the preferences of individual patients.
- The removal of the existing shared bathrooms and toilets to create en-suite facilities and wet rooms for each delivery room.
- Replacement of the carpeted areas on the maternity unit to wood effect vinyl flooring.
- Redecoration and replacement flooring to the entrance of the Maternity Unit.
Sara Keogh, Head of Midwifery and Nursing Elective Care Directorate, Supervisor of Midwives at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:
Our philosophy of care is to work in partnership with mums-to-be to provide them and their family with a safe, friendly and effective service. We aim to provide the highest standard of care throughout pregnancy, birth and during the first few weeks following birth.
Our refurbished unit helps us to do that. We’re really proud of the new facilities we can offer, and we’re so pleased with how welcoming and modern the unit looks now.
We know from hearing from the mums who have given birth here so far that they think so to.
We are looking forward to welcoming more and more mums to give birth here in our modern, safe unit.
The Maternity Unit is on the ground floor and 1st floor of the Strayside Wing at Harrogate District Hospital, and comprises an antenatal clinic, antenatal day assessment unit, delivery suite and postnatal/antenatal ward (Pannal Ward).
In addition, antenatal and post-natal care is provided in the community; in GP surgeries, at home and in children’s centres in the Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Yeadon/Otley areas. There is a consultant-led satellite antenatal clinic at Ripon Hospital on alternate Tuesdays. A home birth service is available for low risk women who are suitable.
