The first phase of the £30million extension was completed last year, resulting in the creation of a new, midwife- led Birth Centre, ,a modern Fetal Medicine Department and spacious Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with the very best facilities.
Now, the vacated space in the existing building has been redeveloped, improving the facilities for those women experiencing difficulty in childbirth. It includes the Close Observation and Recovery Area and Sarah Ward.
Sarah Ward
Sarah Ward looks after women who are experiencing problems during their pregnancy and need to be admitted to hospital.
The ward contains 22 beds and 5 side rooms where women can be cared for, closely monitored and when necessary induction of labour can be started.
Senior Midwife Pip Kidgell says: “The ward has been up and running for a couple of months now and we’ve had very positive feedback from women and their friends and family. Most people feel very well cared for and appreciative of our staff”
Close Observation and Recovery area
The new close observation and recovery unit has five recovery bays for women to rest just after a caesarean section and three larger bays, for women who need closer monitoring after delivery. The ward is wide and airy with plenty of room for staff movement and transferring beds. The development has also freed rooms in the Delivery area for mothers needing closer monitoring and medical supervision before or during labour.
Consultant Anaesthetist James Bamber said: “These facilities allow us to provide improved and unified care for women in labour. If a woman starting off in the Birth Centre develops problems she can quickly be brought up to the Delivery Unit to give birth and will then be closely looked after in our new close observation unit. She can stay for as long as she needs. This means she has minimal disturbance and a smooth pathway through her labour, whatever it might entail.”
The redevelopment is also future-proofed with an adjacent space available which could be used as a third operating theatre if more capacity is needed.
Libby Brinkler is a midwife and nurse working on the unit. She says “This is about the midwifery and medical teams working together to deliver the best service possible to women planning a natural birth as well as those who need to take advantage of the safety net that the Addenbrooke’s and Rosie teams provide.
"This new facility enhances the existing service by providing high risk women with the same level of midwifery and maternity care as lower risk women in the Birth Centre. It means there’s continuity during the childbirth process, despite illness or medical conditions. The whole team behind the Rosie is putting women at the centre of care, to create the best service possible.”
Notes
In 2009 a proposed £30 million extension to the existing Rosie Hospital was given the green light. It was completed in October 2012. The brand new building connected to the original hospital includes:
• a dedicated midwife-led Birth Centre
• maternal and fetal medicine Departments
• a new 58-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• parent accommodation
• an imaging research facility.
Phase II was completed in Autumn 2013 and includes:
• a refurbished Sarah ward, for problems throughout pregnancy and inductions
• a new Close Observation/Recovery Unit, for patients who need special monitoring after labour
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For more information please contact louise.gosling@addenbrookes.nhs.uk tel: 01223 586 730
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