MUMS to be are set to benefit from a new midwife-led maternity unit at the Royal Derby Hospital in the spring.
The unit will be one of eight new midwife-led facilities which will be opened nationwide, emphasising comfort instead of clinical.
Head of Midwifery, Sue Bennion, said: “It will give local women real choices and will allow those who are low risk to give birth in a home-from-home environment within a midwife-led unit, located within the Labour Ward here at the Royal Derby Hospital.”
The current midwife-led space within the Labour Ward will be divided off to create a separate area with its own entrance. Four rooms will be decorated in soft, relaxing tones and a second birthing pool will be installed. The Department of Health has given £224,000 to fund the work and it is hoped the new unit will be open before the summer.
“We’re delighted to be one of the eight centres given the go-ahead to open this unit” says the Trust’s Senior Midwife for low risk, Maggie Coombs, who has helped draw up the plans. “Women will be able to enjoy their labour in a calm and relaxing atmosphere, looked after by midwives but with medical help close at hand if it should be needed. This will reinforce the fact that giving birth is a natural process.”
Almost 6,500 babies are born at the Royal Derby Hospital every year, with an average of 17 births taking place every day.
