Whipps Cross University Hospital

Maternity makeover

The maternity unit at Whipps is currently receiving a £3million make over. The unit, which was mostly built in the 1970s is to undergo a major refurbishment, including £850,000 revamps to the two operating theatres.

The Trust identified these facilities required the upgrade as the number of women delivering at Whipps has increased from 4,200 in 2004 to a projected 5,200 a year.

The unit currently contains the Lilac ward, an area
for low-risk delivery which includes birthing pools and another area with operating theatres for high-risk deliveries.

The focus of the revamp will be on the high risk
delivery suite on the ground floor to bring it up to date.

Douglas Ward, Director of Estates and Facilities/New Hospital Projects Director, said: “It is like having an old car and trading it in for a new one.

“We looked at how we could get the best for the
money we can spend.”

The makeover will include new recovery rooms with ensuite bathrooms separate to delivery rooms, so that mothers who have caesarean sections can bemade as comfortable as possible.

Fathers have also been considered in the redevelopment and facilities will be available for them to rest and recuperate. There will also be a bereavement centre with a dedicated midwife for which extra funding as been allocated.

This is so that mothers who go through stillbirth will not have to be accommodated next door to mothers who have delivered healthy children.

The purposeof the redevelopment is to make delivery as easy and comfortable as possible for new mothers and to help doctors and midwives and the teams work as efficiently as possible.

For more information contact: Douglas Ward, Director of Estates and Facilities, via email:
douglas.ward@whippsx.nhs.
uk or call 0208 535 6800.