A newly created ante-natal clinic with enhanced facilities and services has opened at Bradford Teaching Hospitals today (Tuesday August 12).
The refurbished clinic is located on level two of Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) Women’s and Newborn Unit and includes 11 clinical examination rooms, a new reception area and waiting room for up to 70 people.
Alison Powell
Midwifery Lead, Alison Powell, said: “Our newly created ante-natal clinical area on level two is more spacious and has been created specially to enhance the privacy and dignity for expectant women. It will see separate waiting areas with individual receptions for patients attending appointments in the ante-natal clinic, maternity assessment clinic, ante-natal day unit and gynaecological clinic.
“We hope that these new surroundings will create an even better patient experience for the women of Bradford and beyond and enhance the environment for our colleagues who work there day in, day out.”
Reception desk
Administration offices, which used to be located on level two have been transferred to a new extension which is situated to the right of the unit’s main entrance.
Hibah Shah, from Bradford, who comes from an architectural background, was the first patient to attend the new clinic. She said: “The new development seems like a huge step up from the previous ante-natal clinic, offering larger clinical spaces, spacious waiting areas and well thought out staff and patient routes.
“The overall design is light and airy, making patients feel welcome and at ease.
“It’s clear the staff and team involved have considered the feelings of the staff and patients to create a safer, harmonious and well-managed environment.”
Consulting Room
The facilities are part of the Trust’s move to make its maternity services ‘outstanding’ in all areas including renewing its buildings, so they are ‘fit for purpose’ for the district’s growing population.
The new ante-natal clinic is part of an ambitious £15.5m refurbishment project which is being invested in the Women’s and Newborn Unit. It has already seen a new gynaecology clinic created on level three and a revamped and expanded maternity assessment centre (MAC) on level one, close to the labour ward.
The final part of this phase of the Trust’s ‘Outstanding Maternity Services’ (OMS) programme finishes this December and will see the creation of an ante-natal day unit in the space that is being vacated, with two additional bed spaces being formed within the MAC.
Karen Dawber
Chief Nurse, Karen Dawber, commented: “The co-locations of clinics, wards and assessment units are vital in delivering a service that is second to none and which have been designed to ‘best practice’ standards, alongside feedback from our service users, staff and stakeholders like the Bradford District and Craven Neonatal and Craven Maternity Voices Partnership.
“This expansion aims to enhance patient safety and provide better facilities while aligning with the national vision for maternity services, which emphasises safer, more personalised and family-friendly care for women and their babies.”
Each year around 5,500 babies are born at Bradford Royal Infirmary and the clinic will provide care for mothers and their babies from across the district.
The project construction works have been carried out by Morgan Sindall Construction.
Ben Hall, Yorkshire area director for Morgan Sindall, said: “We’re proud to have partnered with the Trust to deliver these vital new maternity facilities for families across the region. Working in a live environment brings unique challenges, but through close collaboration, we’ve created a modern, welcoming space that will offer parents and their babies the care and comfort they deserve.”