Whether you are pregnant and thinking about where to have your baby or someone thinking about joining our team, I am delighted that you have chosen to visit our website.

Our team here is committed to provide the best possible support before, during and after labour and we are delighted that we have recently added ten new midwives to support the increasing numbers of women choosing to have their babies with us. As well as having the only full range of neonatal services in Surrey we have developed a midwife-led birth unit, the Abbey Birth Centre.

 

Surrey Heartlands Pregnancy Advice Line Downtime

The Surrey Heartlands Pregnancy Advice Line (ShPA Line) is undergoing essential maintenance and will be closed Friday 25th September early morning 00:00-03:00.

The usual divert to the maternity units will not function during this time.

Please call 01932 722835 to contact a midwife during the above times.

 

 

Maternity Live Event

We shall be holding an online event (via Microsoft Teams) on the 1st October at 5:30pm. You can access the event by clicking here.

 

COVID-19: Advice for Pregnant Women and Visiting Restrictions

Visiting Restrictions - Important COVID-19 Update Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus we need to implement a strict visiting policy in order to safeguard our mums and newborn babies, we appreciate your support and understanding with these measures. Visiting is restricted to one named birth partner at the 20 week (anomaly) scan, during labour and for the first hour after your baby is born. We are currently allowing a two hour time slot for all women admitted to the Maternity Unit who are either pregnant or who have given birth; this visiting slot is for a single named birth partner only. There will be no access for any other visitors including children / siblings and you will not be able to bring anyone with you to any of your other appointments, scans or check-ups.   Useful Resources Please read our COVID-19 webpages to find out more information: Visiting the Early Pregnancy Unit Please could all patients, however they are referred, call EPU on 01932 722662 before you come to the unit and certainly before you enter the Abbey Wing building.   Advice for Pregnant Women If you or a member of your family or household has a new continuous cough or high temperature, please do not attend the maternity unit or antenatal appointment.   Maternity Visiting Restrictions Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus we need to implement a strict visiting policy in order to safeguard our mums and newborn babies, we appreciate your support and understanding with these measures.    Breastfeeding Your Baby During COVID-19 There is a wealth of evidence that breastmilk and breastfeeding reduces the risk of babies developing infectious diseases. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed directly whenever possible and maximise the amount of breastmilk they are able to provide. At present, there is no evidence that Covid-19 is transmitted through breastmilk. Infection can be spread to the baby in the same way as to anyone else.   Antenatal Breastfeeding Workshop Our antenatal breastfeeding workshop is back up and running from the comfort of your own home. Join our virtual breastfeeding class on Thursday evenings 7-9pm. Recommended for couples who are around 34 weeks pregnant.     COVID-19 Screening At St. Peter’s Hospital our priority is to keep you and your baby safe. In line with NHS England and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) recommendations we are now offering a swab to screen for COVID-19 to all women who are admitted into the Maternity unit, regardless of symptoms. This is to help minimise the spread of COVID-19 in hospitals. Please access the information leaflet which is available here and on the Badgernet portal. From 7th September, we are extending our COVID-19 testing to include birth partners of women who are having planned caesarean sections. This is to minimise the infection risk within our theatres. Birth partners will need to self isolate following their test until the time of admission. They will be tested at the same time their partner attend their pre-op appointment in Maternity Day Assessment Unit. Download our leaflet: Screening for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection

 

 

Our Philosophy of Care

Excellent maternity care is comprehensive and flexible to respond to the clinical and social needs of each family.

We know that every woman, baby and family is unique and will have different needs depending on their own circumstances. We want to work in partnership to help every woman achieve the experience that is right for them.

Our team will ensure that you have the correct information to help you reach the choice and decisions that are right for you. When circumstances mean that the choice has to be changed, we will ensure that we provide information and an explanation for you to understand the reasons for this ... read more.

 

 

Introducing the Abbey Birth Centre

We are delighted to announce that Ashford and St Peter’s fantastic new midwifery led birth unit – The Abbey Birth Centre (ABC) has opened to our new mums-to-be. This is a unique NHS facility in the local area and offer an ideal ‘home from home’ setting for women seeking a natural and positive birth experience.

The centre looks and feels very different to a traditional labour ward, with care led by our friendly team of midwives who feel very passionately about promoting and supporting natural birth whenever possible.

Situated next to the existing maternity unit, Abbey Wing at St Peter’s Hospital, the Abbey Birth Centre has been purpose built to provide a homely and relaxing environment, where women who have normal and uncomplicated pregnancies and want to give birth in a less clinical setting. There are four en-suite birthing rooms, three with pool facilities and extra touches such as iPod docking stations and a small outside garden space ... read more

 

 

How to Find Us

Maternity Services are based in Abbey Wing (shown above), located at the front of the St. Peter’s hospital site in Chertsey, Surrey.

• Click here for travel directions and parking information or on the map below

 

Developments in Maternity

Welcome to my monthly video message. This time I’ve been talking to colleagues working in our maternity services in Abbey Wing and the ABC birth unit and finding out about some of the fantastic work that’s going on to improve care to women and their babies.

Importantly I’ve also learnt about some great work – through the Royal College of Midwives’ Caring for You Charter – we are doing to support our team as well.

Suzanne Rankin
Chief Executive