NEW multi-million pound maternity theatres are officially open at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI).
Both theatres are now fully operational, carrying out both planned and emergency caesareans as well as other complicated deliveries.
The woman’s journey is at the heart of the design and the new layout means they can always see their baby, even if they are taken to the resuscitation area.
They help to create a “much better environment” for women giving birth, the Trust said, as well as helping to better protect their dignity.
The £8m theatres were built during the Covid pandemic and were officially opened by chief nurse Karen Dawber, who said they represent “life, birth, joy and new beginnings”.
Fozia Arshad, midwife and project lead for the theatres, worked closely with Labour Ward Manager Angela McMillan and Maternity Theatres Lead Jen Inglis, along with the rest of the ream, to balance running the extremely busy service with the major building project.
A planning application submitted back in 2020 said: “The proposal has been conceived to answer the current needs of the Women and Children’s Unit at the Bradford Royal Infirmary’s Maternity by providing new and improved theatres and improving patient experience.”
The new theatres are part of Bradford Teaching Hospital’s drive to deliver outstanding maternity services and Fozia said they provide a more efficient way of working.
“The theatre environment is so much better, there’s more space and storage so we’re able to have everything in one place. It makes our working day better – professionally and mentally, as we now have such a nice environment,” she said.
Jen added: “Really importantly, it’s also a much better environment for women: it’s a softer clinical environment for them and their dignity is better protected.
“This is all about the woman’s journey and remembering that women are at the centre of everything we do.
“The new layout means they can see their baby at all times, especially if baby is taken to the resus area, and we’ve got a new theatre waiting area.
“We’ve already had some lovely comments from women who’ve used the theatres.”
Based next to BRI’s Women’s and Newborn Unit, the new development includes two theatres, associated recovery rooms and other spaces.
The old theatres will be remodelled into enhanced maternal care rooms and staff areas, while the existing staff room will be converted into a High Dependency Unit delivery room.
Bradford’s maternity unit is one of the busiest in England and featured on BBC Panorama episode Stacey Dooley and the Lockdown Babies.
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