East Surrey Hospital maternity staff win bumper grant (From Redhill And Reigate Life)
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East Surrey Hospital maternity staff win bumper grant
11:43am Monday 28th January 2013 in Local News
Maternity staff at the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill are celebrating having won a £400,000 cash injection for their department.
The busy staff won the funding boost from the NHS after being supported by hundreds of people, including many new parents, in a grant bid.
The award was part of a £25 million NHS investment programme in maternity facilities, and was the largest amount given to a hospital in the area.
The money will be spent increasing the number of birthing pools at the hospital from one to four.
Work is set to start in the department straight away, with a finish date at the end of March.
Maternity chief nurse Michelle Cudjoe said the department team wanted to say a big thank you to all the new parents who helped them win the grant.
In just a few days, 430 people filled out surveys supporting the unit.
Ms Cudjoe said: “Mums and dads told us they wanted a more homely environment and more birthing pools, and this is what we based our bid on. “This money allows us to give women a choice in how and where they give birth.”
The staff at the hospital deliver more than 5,000 babies a year, making it one of the busiest maternity units in the area. Birthing pools are chosen by many women as a way of helping to manage pain during labour. One of the new pools will go into the unit's high risk area, so women who have complications during labour will have the chance to use a pool.
Michael Wilson, chief executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “I am delighted that East Surrey has been awarded the grant.”
He said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who made this happen. “This investment illustrates the NHS’ commitment to improving maternity services and East Surrey’s innovative approach.”
The hospital's maternity team were recently awarded a 100% mark when the department’s standards were reviewed.
The assessment process focused on how the hospital manages the safety of women and their babies.
