How your comments have helped us improve

You are here : Home

Written by Head of Maternity Services

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:

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Last Updated ( Friday, 10 July 2009 11:20 )