Home | A-Z | About us | News | Jobs | Travel & maps | Search | Contact | Calendar

News & events

New birth unit officially opens at the Rosie Hospital

Staff at the Rosie Hospital have welcomed back the first mothers and babies who used the new midwifery-led birth unit when it officially opened on Monday 20 June 2005.

Some of the first mothers and babies to use the unit

The unit offers women a home-from-home birthing experience within the safety of the hospital. Women are able to make choices about their care and are encouraged to have a normal birth without intervention with the use of birthing balls, birthing stools, massage and a birthing pool to help them in their labour. If they do need medical assistance, they can quickly be transferred to the delivery unit in the Rosie Hospital.

Some of the staff who work on the new unit

This new unit is part of an ongoing modernisation process at the Rosie Hospital to improve and develop local maternity services. It is managed by experienced midwives with the help of maternity care assistants, caring for women who have had no significant problems in their pregnancy or medical issues.

The opening was also a chance for the unit to say thank you to the Friends of the Rosie who donated £8,000 towards the cost of its birthing pool. Sally Munday, Chairman of the Friends of the Rosie, cut the ribbon on the day.

Rebecca and Michael Lanshoff and baby Amelia were among the first to use the new unit when it opened in April

Speaking about the new unit, Consultant Midwife Susan Burvill said: "The unit gives women with straightforward pregnancies the opportunity to give birth in a homely and comfortable environment. We have had some extremely positive and encouraging feedback in the few months that we have been open - mums love it!"

The new unit has already seen 125 births since it opened in April, many of which have been to first-time mothers.

For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604.