A share of a £25 million fund to improve the birthing environments in more than 100 hospitals has been announced by the Department of Health.
The money will go towards a wide range of projects and several older maternity hospitals will be refurbished. There will also be funding for a large number of simple measures that improve choice for women and their experience of maternity care. Across the country, the improvements will include:
- Almost 40 new birthing pools.
- Eight new midwife led units.
- More en suite facilities in over 40 maternity units.
- More equipment like beds and family rooms in almost 50 units that allow dads and families to stay overnight and support women while in labour or if their baby needs neonatal care.
- Better bereavement spaces at nearly 20 hospitals to support bereaved families after a tragic event such as a stillborn baby.
Other improvements include equipment that gives women more freedom to move around and change position while in labour and facilities that allow women to choose if they want a bath or shower.
