Work at the Maternity Unit at the QE Hospital, Gateshead is underway to provide new facilities for parents and families. This exciting new project will include a second theatre and new parent and staff facilities in the Special Care Baby Unit.
Due to the increasing numbers of operations required in the maternity department, the new theatre will allow more capacity for planned and emergency operations to take place.
Service Line Manager for Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Kate Hewitson said “We are delighted to have finally started the work on the maternity unit here at the Trust. The new addition to maternity will allow us to safely manage the increasing number of operations required, as well as reducing on the day delays for mothers waiting for planned caesarean sections.
“The ongoing work will have a huge impact on the care we can provide to expectant parents as well as providing our staff with new, state-of-the-art facilities.
“Each week I have been taking photos of the build and it is extremely exciting seeing it all come together. If you do see builders or the facilities team within the Maternity unit, please don’t be alarmed as there is a lot of work taking place and our main priority is the safety of the mothers and their families.”
Other work is also being carried out across the unit including new flooring, staff facilities and improvements to parent facilities within the Special Care Baby Unit.
The new theatre unit is due to be completed by August 2022.