Urgent calls for funding to improve South Yorkshire maternity buildings
Leading health organisations have written to the government
Last updated 19th Apr 2021
There's an urgent plea for more government cash to improve NHS maternity buildings across South Yorkshire.
Leading health organisations have written to the government saying problems during the pandemic have exposed old poorly designed facilities across the UK.
They're calling for more investment in renovating maternity estates in hospitals.
Gill Adgie's from the Royal College of Midwives in South Yorkshire - she says it's made it hard for mums-to-be over the last year:
"Many women have not been able to always have a partner or a friend with them when they've gone to scans because the scan rooms are small, they haven't got any windows so there's poor ventilation, they've not been able to socially distance in the scan rooms. So women have felt quite isolated at times.
"When you're going in to either birth your baby or if you're just going in for an antenatal clinic appointment, you want those surroundings to be welcoming, you want them to look clean and fresh, you want to feel that it's a comfortable enviornment to be in.
"There's only so much you can do with a building that might be many years old."
The One Voice group - which includes the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the baby loss charity Sands - wants a "wholesale review" of NHS estates particularly maternity services and those that fall short of the standard needed to be upgraded.
It's written a joint letter to the Health Minister Nadine Dorries welcoming more cash for staffing and training but saying the same level of investment is now needed in buildings.
Gill says it's an issue here:
"'I've been thinking about some of the maternity services across South Yorkshire and there's not very many that are brand spanking new. Definitely maternity services need to be looked at, I think as a matter of urgency, and that's why we've written to Nadine Dorries.
"Not just the women would benefit from really nice modern surroundings - bright, airy, rooms that are big enough that we would be able to socially distance. It's really important that wherever you work that building should be good for you as well - we need places where our maternity teams can rest and take their breaks."
Clea Harmer, Chief Executive of Sands said:
“It is crucial that mothers who are pregnant after the death of a baby are able to have the support of a partner who can be with them during antenatal scans and birth. During the pandemic we know there has been inequality of access for these partners, and this has often been due to a lack of space.
"Upgrading the estate of hospitals will allow those who have suffered the death of a baby to spend precious time making memories, and will also allow those pregnant after loss to have the support that they need.”
A Department of Health and Social Care Spokesperson said:
“We are committed to long-term, rolling investment in the NHS to ensure we provide world-class facilities for staff and patients, including the continued commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 in October last year, the largest health infrastructure project in a generation.
“We understand the challenges new and expectant mothers, and their families, face during these difficult times. Specialist and inpatient perinatal mental health services have remained open throughout the pandemic – offering digital and remote support.
We've asked the Department of Health for a response.