“I was reluctant to give birth there due to it being offsite.”
“Parking was an issue.”
“I would feel much more comfortable having the MLU within the hospital in case of emergency.”
“The MLU was a beautiful and peaceful place to give birth.”
These are just a few of the comments received so far as part of a survey that focuses on Walsall’s Midwifery-Led Unit which is being re-located to the Manor Hospital from its stand-alone site.
And families have just over 24 hours left to have their say and help Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust shape the service provided.
The relocation is part of a £1.6m Maternity Services refurbishment and follows feedback from families who have said they would like access to an onsite MLU. The refurbishment also includes the relocation of the bereavement suite to create an enhanced environment for parents who have suffered a loss.
Moving the MLU next to the hospital’s Maternity Unit will mean offering more birth choices to a greater number of women. Within the existing unit only low-risk women – with strict criteria – have been able to use the service. These criteria can now be expanded when the unit is co-located in a hospital setting.
The Trust has been working closely with Walsall Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) prior to this work being started and the group has helped develop the short, anonymous survey to give people an opportunity to have their say.
It can be accessed here https://re-url.uk/W6W9 and closes at midnight on Wednesday 22 March.
The existing MLU is currently 0.8miles away from the hospital. Being within the Maternity Unit means that women and babies who may have complications as their labour and birth progress have rapid access to staff who are able to support urgent care.
Samantha Thompson, Chair of Walsall MVP said: “While the MVP supports this relocation and the opportunities that it will bring for our families, following feedback that we have received over previous years we are also keen to reach out to as many people as possible to consider their views so that we are truly working together on Maternity Services provision in Walsall.”