Two hospitals open new maternity care rooms

The rooms are at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital and William Harvey Hospital

Two Kent hospitals have each opened a new enhanced maternity care (EMC) room.

The rooms, in the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate and William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, both feature specialist equipment, including maternity-configured cardiac monitors and a specially designed EMC chart for patient monitoring.

They are located within each hospital’s labour ward and will serve as a dedicated space for maternity patients who need an enhanced level of care but do not require critical care.

Previously, patients had to leave the labour ward for care elsewhere in the hospitals but they will now be able to remain with their babies on the ward.

Dr Clare Redfearn, clinical lead for the EMC project at QEQM, said: "A small proportion of women may become critically unwell during their pregnancy, birth or soon after.

"For them to have the multi-professional team care for them in a fully-equipped space so they can remain with their baby whilst receiving dedicated and specialist care is going to make such a difference.

"It will enhance the experience of women and birthing people by reducing separation from their babies and in turn any associated psychological trauma."

Previously, both the QEQM and the William Harvey hospitals were part of the trust that admitted failing to provide safe care and treatment following an inquest and a review.

Up to 45 babies might have survived if they had received better care at East Kent NHS Hospitals Trust, an independent review found.