EXPECTANT mums can now benefit from brand new labour ward facilities at Hinchingbrooke Hospital after the department had a full refurbishment.

The labour ward, which is used by women across Cambridge and the Fens as well as other areas, now includes ensuite facilities in each of the seven birthing rooms.

There is also new ventilation, new floors, replacement windows, a new midwife station, new furniture and new baby resuscitation equipment.

In January, Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust was named as the top Trust regionally for providing high quality care within its maternity services, through a recent survey of women and through the highest level of accreditation.

The most recent Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) survey placed Hinchingbrooke’s maternity services top out of 17 Trusts across the East of England.

The Trust also reached the highest accreditation available for the management of safety surrounding pregnancy, birth and postnatal period and is one of just 13 Trust throughout England that has gained this achievement.

The full refurbishment now brings the Labour Ward in line with the Trust’s other inpatient areas, which have gradually been refurbished over the past three years.

This includes the Midwifery Led Birthing Unit, named Primrose Suite, which was officially opened in September 2009, giving women with low risk pregnancies the chance to give birth in a low risk birthing environment.

Janet Driver, General Manager for Women’s Services, said: “We are pleased to be able to now offer our women excellent facilities in a newly refurbished environment.

“We have recently been named as the top Trust in the East of England for providing high quality care within the maternity services and have also achieved the highest accreditation available for the management of safety surrounding pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.

“This refurbishment is the final addition that we need to ensure that our women can continue to receive great NHS care from our NHS staff with excellent facilities.”

Gerry McSorley, Chief Executive, said: “This is an exciting time for the maternity department and we are incredibly proud of the achievements that have been made. The Trust can now offer state of the art facilities in addition to the great care that they already give.”