Heatherwood Hospital Maternity Unit - The Ascot Birth Centre

The Ascot Birth Centre, the low risk maternity unit at Heatherwood Hospital, has for some time been experiencing an unprecedented level of long term staff sickness and maternity leave. These absences have been managed, up until now, using agency staff and pulling cover over from Wexham Park. Over the last couple of weeks the Trust has been making every effort to secure extra midwives to fill the gaps, however, due to the advanced skills that are required for midwives working at the Ascot Birth Centre it has not been possible.

The safety of mothers and their babies is of paramount importance, and as a result the Trust has taken the decision to temporarily close the delivery suite from today, Tuesday 27th September. The unit will remain open for outpatient clinics, Antenatal and Postnatal care will continue as normal as will the Early Pregnancy unit.

Director of Nursing, Deirdre Thompson said: ”The decision to temporarily close the delivery suite has been made following discussions with the Trust’s head of midwifery and lead obstetrician. It is our top priority for mothers to receive the best care and proper midwifery cover and we are not prepared to provide a service that would put the safety and care of mothers and their babies at risk. Our maternity staff have already been contacting mothers-to-be who were due to give birth at Heatherwood to discuss alternative arrangements. We understand there may be a number of mothers-to-be who will be upset that they will not now be able to use the birth centre and we would like to apologise for any upset or inconvenience this decision may cause. The number of mothers giving birth at the Ascot Birth Centre averages one a day. By focusing their care at Wexham Park, these births can be effectively and safely managed and our midwife to birth ratio maintained at 1:34.”

Mothers who were due to go to Heatherwood are classified as ‘low risk’ and so will be able to have a home birth, or to transfer to our birth centre, the Isis Unit at Wexham Park Hospital which has been recognised as one of the best performing birth centres in the South Central Strategic Health Authority.

Wexham Park Hospital routinely organises tours for prospective parents to view the facilities, and has organised additional tours for those who would have attended Heatherwood Hospital. The Isis Unit offers the same type of care as the Ascot Birth Centre which provides a ‘home from home’ environment where women are encouraged to pursue an active birth in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Any prospective parents who were due to go to Heatherwood Hospital who have any questions or concerns can phone our maternity helpline number on 01753 634474 between the hours of 9am and 5pm. If you are calling outside of these hours then please leave a message and a member of the team will contact you on their return to the office. Tours of the Isis birth unit at Wexham Park Hospital can be booked for a Sunday morning by calling 01753 633147.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Wexham Park Hospital Isis Birth Centre offers a “home from home” environment to prospective mothers who fall into the “low risk” category. Mums-to-be are encouraged to pursue an active birth in a comfortable, safe and relaxed atmosphere where birth is treated as a natural process and medical intervention is kept to a minimum.

The Isis Birth Centre has five birth rooms, two of which have en-suite facilities and one a birth pool. The rooms are furnished to support your choice of natural birth and create an atmosphere that will help families to feel as calm as possible. There is a fully equipped kitchen where snacks and food can be warmed or stored and a lounge/dining room to relax either during the early stages of labour or following birth.

The centre offers a range of traditional and alternative methods of pain relief, including aromatherapy, reflexology, massage, gas and air (Entenox), pethidine, an active birth pool and TENS. The centre encourages active birth, and there are birthing balls, mats and beanbags available to ensure that women are given every opportunity to labour and birth in the way they wish.

If complications arise during labour or if labour does not progress as expected we will transfer patients to our labour ward to complete their birth. If this happens, wherever possible the Isis Birth Centre midwives will continue the care, or it may be necessary to transfer care to one of the many experienced midwives on the labour ward.

The Isis Birth Centre has a six-bedded postnatal room, which is available for women and their babies to relax and recuperate after the birth. Mothers should be able to go home between six and twenty four hours after the birth.

The maternity entrance at Wexham Park Hospital is located via Entrance 4 on Wexham Park Lane. This is off Church Lane, the road linking the roundabout at Wexham Park to the A412, the Uxbridge Road.