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Maternity Triage 

Our Maternity Triage Department is a 24/7 service for people over 18 weeks of pregnancy and is on the first floor 
Triage is intended for urgent pregnancy-related problems, advice and emergencies. You may be redirected to another healthcare practitioner such as your GP, local pharmacy, NHS111 or A&E, if appropriate 

For urgent pregnancy-related advice or emergencies, please call 01895 279054.

Delivery Suite

The Delivery Suite has 12 delivery rooms with en suite shared bathrooms. We have one family room located next to the birthing pool room. There is also an operating theatre and recovery area. We offer natural and water births to low-risk mothers as well as epidurals if needed.

If you request an epidural we offer a 24-hour service. Mothers are encouraged to go home between two and six hours after delivery if there are no complications following the birth.

Delivery Suite telephone numbers: 01895 279441 or 01895 279463.

Labour Ward  

The Labour Ward is located on the ground floor and has 11 fully equipped delivery rooms with en suite bathrooms. Birthing stools and balls are available to use on request.

Although we do not have a birthing pool within the hospital building right now, work to reintroduce a pool is in progress. 

Labour Ward also has two dedicated obstetric operating theatres, a two-bed recovery area and our new Ocean Pearl Suite, for families whose baby was 'born sleeping'. This self-contained berevement unit is a tranquil and private environment and has a private sitting room and garden for sole use of bereaved families.

Visiting Labour Ward

• Two allocated birth partners are permitted for the duration of labour and birth 

• In the case of emergency caesarean section or admission to one of our operating theatres, only one birth partner is permitted; the second birth partner will be politely asked to leave. This is because of limited capacity in theatre and recovery 

• Only one allocated birth partner is permitted for elective/planned caesarean section 

• No swapping of birth partners is allowed on the Labour Ward 

• Children are not permitted on the Labour Ward at any time 

If you think you are in labour and are planning to give birth on the Labour Ward, please contact Maternity Triage on 01895 279054.

Midwifery Led Unit (MLU)

MLU is a four-bed, low risk birth setting on the second floor. The unit is midwife-led and is intended to create a home from home environment for intrapartum care.

Birthing stools and balls are available to use, upon request. We do not currently have a birthing pool available within the hospital building and work to reintroduce a pool is in progress

If you are outside of the MLU criteria and wish to give birth in this setting, speak to your midwife for a referral to our Birth Choices Clinic, where our consultant midwife can discuss this with you

If you are in labour and are planning to give birth on MLU, please call 01895 279880.

Katherine Ward (Antenatal)

Katherine Ward is a 17-bed inpatient ward on the secnd floor. Four beds are for day assessment. Nine single rooms are allocated for women who have pregnancy complications, where mother and baby’s health can be monitored - these are for women who are likely to stay a long time.

Katherine Ward telephone numbers: 01895 279462 or 01895 279935.

Marina and Alexandra wards (postnatal)

Our postnatal wards are spaced over two floors to provide new parents and their babies with postnatal care until their discharge into the community 

Marina Ward is a nine-bed ward on the first floor with four-bed bays and one single occupancy room. The ward has shared bathrooms and is located alongside the Day Assessment Unit (DAU) [see below].

Alexandra Ward  is a 15-bed ward with a mix of five single occupancy rooms and four-bed bays. This ward has shared bathrooms and is joined with the Neonatal Transitional Care Unit on the third floor [see below].

After the birth of your baby we can offer an amenity room if one is available. The fee is £100 for room with a shared bathroom or £150 for room with individual bathroom, per night. Unfortunately these rooms cannot be booked but please ask the Labour Ward midwife after the birth of your baby. Every effort will be made to accommodate your request if a room is available. The cost of the room does not include private care or separate menu.

Once you have been discharged you will be moved to the Departure Lounge ready to go home.

Visiting the postnatal wards

• One primary birth partner is able to visit between 8am and 8pm.

• Siblings and other visitors are allowed to visit between 2-7pm.

• A maximum of two visitors (including the birth partner and children) are allowed per bedside at any time.

Alexandra and Marina ward telephone numbers:  01895 279459 or 01895 279934.

Ultrasound Department

All pregnancy scans are completed within the maternity unit in two ultrasound departments.

The main antenatal ultrasound department is alongside the antenatal clinic on the ground floor, and Marina ultrasound department is lon the first floor next to maternity triage.

The location of scan appointments will be printed on appointment letters.

We are unable to guarantee that a female sonographer will be available at scan appointments. If a female sonographer is not available, and you do not wish to be scanned by a male, then your scan will be rebooked for another day.

If you have a scan related query or wish to change your scan appointment, please call  01895 279905 or email  thh.antenatalultrasound@nhs.net .

Day Assessment Unit

The service in this unit is designed for women who may be showing signs of early complications but  who do not require admission to hospital. It allows for your pregnancy to be closely monitored. If you require an appointment in this unit your midwife or obstetrician will give you information and explain the procedure.

Support and advice

Telephone support and advice is available 24 hours a day, as well as assessment on admission, which provides a more efficient service to women as they arrive. During your pregnancy, please consider your transport arrangements for your journey to hospital. Only use ambulances in case of emergency. In all instances, please telephone before arriving at the hospital on 01895 279441.