On Friday 28 October the new Stars Appeal funded Birth Centre opened at Salisbury Hospital
The new Beatrice Birth Centre at Salisbury Hospital, which has been part-funded by the Stars Appeal, has been officially opened.
The Birth Centre, along with a new maternity department entrance and reception and courtyard garden, have been made possible thanks to a £260,000 grant from Salisbury Hospital’s NHS Charity the Stars Appeal along with funding from the Local Maternity and Neonatal System.
Three local people, Miss Margaret Smith, Mrs Joan Joyce and Mrs Jean Finniss, who left gifts to the Stars Appeal in their Wills that have helped to pay for the new facilities, have been recognised on a plaque within the Centre alongside other Stars Appeal donors. The new facilities were officially opened by family members and friends of the late Miss Smith, Mrs Joyce and Mrs Finniss at a special event organised by midwives on Friday (28th October).
The Birth Centre is led by experienced midwives and is best described as a ‘home away from home’ environment and as a middle ground alternative to the traditional labour ward or home birth. It provides a relaxed environment for labour and birth with two spacious rooms, which have plenty of amenities including a birthing pool, comfortable birthing aids such as balls and mats, and aromatherapy. There are also state-of-the-art facilities such as TV screens to connect to devices via Bluetooth or USBs and adjustable lighting. The Birth Centre is complemented by a new landscaped courtyard garden, where mums-to-be can take a walk or relax. The Centre received its first mothers on Monday 31 October.
The Maternity entrance and reception, which has been in use for just under a year, provides, for the first time, a dedicated entrance where expectant parents are welcomed to all maternity services.
Joanne Hayward, Director of Maternity and Neonatal Services at Salisbury Hospital, said: “Our new Beatrice Birth Centre really has been a labour of love. This midwife-led centre improves our offer to pregnant women in our community as they contemplate their birth plans. The superb facilities provide a wonderful, caring and safe place for women to choose to have their baby. The community midwife will discuss with mothers-to-be where they would like to birth their baby and if the Beatrice Birth Centre is the right place for them.”
Dave Cates of the Stars Appeal said: “We are incredibly proud of this wonderful Birth Centre that, along with the new entrance and garden, will help thousands of local families welcoming babies over the years to come. None of this would be possible without our supporters and we are so grateful to Miss Smith, Mrs Joyce and Mrs Finniss for their exceptional generosity and to everyone who has contributed towards this project.”
Pictured:
Top: The husband of Mrs Jean Finniss with Eiri Jones, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Non-Executive Director cut the ribbon as family and friends of Mrs Joyce and Miss Smith look on
Below:
Top row left: One of the birthing rooms in the new Centre
Top row right: Inside the new maternity entrance and reception
Middle row left: Approaching the new maternity reception
Middle row right: The courtyard garden for mums-to-be
Bottom row left: A birthing pool with adjustable lighting
Bottom row right: Celebrating the opening of the Beatrice Birth Centre
