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How your comments have helped us improve |
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Written by Head of Maternity Services
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Separate Nursery
There is good evidence that
- Babies who stay with their mothers are more settled
- Mothers who are separated from their babies find it difficult to adapt to being a mother
- Women who are breastfeeding their babies establish feeding more quickly if the baby is with them
- It is normal UK maternity unit practice that nurseries are not provided and mothers care for their own babies unless the mother or the baby is unwell.
- Women who would like to have a ‘change of scene’ in the post natal ward can use the TV area or infant feeding room.
Car Parking
What we’ve done;
- Staff are clamped if they park in patient parking spaces so that more are available for you at peak times
- We are working hard to reduce the number of times you come to hospital in your pregnancy so you will need to park less often
- The Hospital and Surrey County Council are working together to provide more buses and routes to the hospital
- Some specialities are offering evening and weekend outpatient clinics and surgery to reduce the congestion
- The new weekly visitor charge of £10 is being used to fund better transport options
Bedside Facilities
What we’ve done;
- As part of the refurbishment to the antenatal and postnatal in stay areas each has a ‘Patient Power’ terminal (Hospicom)
The following is provided when you use a pre-payment card in the terminal:
- TV
- Internet
- Radio
- Phone (incoming and out going calls)
There is a “headphones-only time” each night so that mothers can have some rest
Longer Visiting Hours
What we’ve done;
- All new mothers were surveyed as to what visiting pattern they would prefer
- The mothers and visitors suggested that the new visiting times for Joan Booker ward (antenatal and postnatal) are Visiting is for persons over 16 years old only
- Family and Friends: 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm
- Partners and the mothers own other children (of any age) may visit 8.00am-10.00pm
More Pictures on the Wall
What we’ve done;
- We have taken a series of photos of mothers and midwives working together and will display these in the labour ward corridor.
- The local National Childbirth Trust has donated some educational posters for each labour room.
- One of the midwives has donated two framed prints; these are in the infant feeding room on Joan Booker Ward, and by the emergency birth facilities on labour ward.
A Less Hospital-like Atmosphere
What we’ve done;
- We have two Home-from-Home rooms on the labour ward which are most suitable for women who have an uncomplicated pregnancy.
- The National Childbirth Trust Survey has suggested that women and families want more home-like rooms. The remainder of the labour rooms will be redecorated according to these guidelines.
Waterbirth Facilities
What we’ve done:
- Encourage the use of baths and pool for pain relief through parenting sessions
- The pool is open and ready for use by women who have had an uncomplicated pregnancy
- Provided training sessions for midwives
- Encourage buddying up so that midwives can gain more experience – in the early days there may be more than 2 midwives at your waterbirth
How You Can Help
Email the department at
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Last Updated ( Friday, 10 July 2009 11:20 )
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