Trust Delivers Midwifery-led Unit To Lagan Valley

“The opening of this newly refurbished midwifery-led unit is good news for local women. “This will be the second freestanding midwife led unit to open in Northern Ireland. The Downe Hospital midwifery unit has already been very successful and many women are actively choosing to have their babies in midwife led units. I expect the Lagan Valley unit will be just as popular with mothers-to-be as it will provide high quality care and offer real choice. “The transfer from a consultant led inpatient service to the midwifery led service has been planned for some time. It is estimated that a large number of the 1,200 women each year who gave birth at Lagan Valley obstetric led unit, which only booked women with low to medium risk pregnancies, will be suitable to deliver in the new unit.” Services available at the new midwifery unit will include: community midwifery service; antenatal clinics, day assessment and inpatient midwifery service for low risk women including care during delivery. Current Maternity Service at Lagan Valley Lagan Valley Hospital currently provides a 24-hour consultant-led obstetric service for low to medium-risk patients. Services include: · Antenatal care;
· Intrapartum care (consultant-led);
· Postnatal care;
· Day assessment;
· Anomaly scans;
· Fetal medicine clinic;
· Breast feeding support;
· Home birth support group. Future Maternity Service Following withdrawal of consultant-led services today (2nd February), the following services will be provided: · Community Midwifery service;
· Antenatal Clinics at Lagan Valley including consultant-led clinics facilitated by UHD, RJMS;
· Day assessment;
· Inpatient midwifery service for low risk women including intrapartum (during delivery).]]>