Midwife-led unit re-opens at William Harvey Hospital

A midwife-led unit has reopened after a full refurbishment to provide a better environment for families to welcome their new arrivals. 

The Singleton unit, which has been temporarily closed since August 2021, has undergone a full upgrade to improve services.

The refurbishment has included improvements such as individual lighting in its birthing rooms, new sleeper couches, flooring and the addition of artwork and LED candles to create a more ‘home-from-home’ setting for birth; as well as improved facilities for partners.

The unit offers a midwife-led birthing environment for those at low risk of complications, and has eight birthing rooms all with en-suite facilities.

The rooms are equipped to support active, natural birthing, and if a parent or baby requires additional medical support, the obstetric and neonatal units are just upstairs in the same hospital.

Michelle Cudjoe, director of midwifery, said: "We are really pleased to be able to offer greater birth choices for parents with the reopening of the Singleton unit.

“We want to be able to give all the mums and families using our services the best possible experience, and we believe that the improvements that we have made will make a real difference.

“I appreciate that the unit has been temporarily closed for a long time, but any decision about the service was made with patient and staff safety being the number one priority. 

“Thank you to my colleagues at all levels who have worked hard to reintroduce the unit here at William Harvey, and we are excited to welcome expectant parents at any moment now!”