Funding boost for maternity services at Chelsea and Westminster

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s Maternity Unit has been awarded £274,000 from the Department of Health's Improving Birthing Environments Capital Fund Awards. Funding was open to all hospitals in the country and maternity units were invited to bid for money to invest in maternity environments—it was not available for staffing or salaries.

Vivien Bell (Head of Maternity) submitted a bid in December and it was announced at the end of January that the Trust has been successful in securing £274,000.

The environments in which women give birth can have a big impact on the overall experience for both mothers and fathers. The funds will go towards building ensuite bathroom facilities in the Birthing Unit room and Postnatal Ward.

There will also be improvements made to the bereavement facilities on the unit making the bereavement room more homely and comfortable for families.

The funding will also go towards purchasing birthing pools for the new midwifery-led unit. Birthing pools are an increasingly popular method of pain relief so the additional pools will allow more women access to use them during labour. Better facilities will also be provided for new fathers and birthing partners to support them at this intense time.

The funding is due to be released to the Trust before the end of March and work will begin on the improvements to the Maternity Unit straightaway.