A £10m moneypot has been announced by the Department of Health to fund improvements to maternity care facilities for women and their babies.
Expectant mothers will be seen in more homely environments and will benefit from new equipment, maternity minister, Dr Dan Poulter, has announced.
In total, 63 trusts will share the money, improving the settings in which women receive care and giving them more choice over place of birth.
Among those to receive cash are Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which will get £496,992 for the development of a complex needs suite to support women who have, or are at risk of developing, mental health or substance misuse problems in pregnancy. It will incorporate en-suite, family-friendly facilities and a pre-labour and labour room.
This investment in maternity care is all already making a big difference to families, with more choice and a better environment where women can give birth
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Great Yarmouth will get £285,135 for to develop a dedicated space for bereaved parents; and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust will receive 465,000 to support improvements to the midwifery-led birthing unit and low-risk postnatal area including the refurbishment of 11 birthing rooms and 12 post natal rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
And £304,400 will be given to Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for the enhancement of its delivery theatre, delivery room and post natal facilities.
Dr Poulter said: “Making sure families receive a good experience when having a baby in NHS maternity units is a top priority for me, as both a doctor and a health minister.
This £10m investment has been targeted to the areas we know need it the most. It has also provided a boost to the local economy by supporting local, hardworking companies who will carry out the work
“Since 2010 we have already seen huge improvements to maternity services right across the country. We have more midwives working in more midwife-led units, record numbers of midwives in training, more birthing pools, and more family rooms.
“This investment in maternity care is all already making a big difference to families, with more choice and a better environment where women can give birth.
“But we want to do more. This £10m investment has been targeted to the areas we know need it the most. It has also provided a boost to the local economy by supporting local, hardworking companies who will carry out the work.”
The funding builds on the successful £25m maternity capital investment programme set up last year, which has funded significant improvements to 100 birthing units.
The successful trusts are all in areas where the birth rate has risen rapidly.
Click here to read a full list of the recipients.
- Companies:
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust
- Department of Health
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
