Service Outline
- Chesterfield Birth Centre, based at Chesterfield Royal Hospital
- Antenatal and postnatal inpatient ward at Chesterfield Royal Hospital
- Community midwifery service for North Derbyshire
- Antenatal clinic at Chesterfield Royal Hospital
- Pregnancy Assessment Unit at Chesterfield Royal Hospital
The care unit provides a wide range of choices for both antenatal and intrapartum care. There are a range of maternity care options including consultant care, shared care and midwife only care, including home birth.
A purpose built and individually designed Birth Centre at Chesterfield Royal Hospital that opened in January 2010 provides 8 Consultant led care rooms, including 1 with birth pool, and a further 4 midwifery led care rooms, including 3 with birth pools.
For most women and birthing people the community midwife is responsible for antenatal bookings, reducing the need for attendance at hospital. A patient held maternity record is in use throughout the service. A full range of antenatal tests, including anomaly screening, is available and ultrasound scanning is carried out on all patients who request screening at 12 and 20 weeks gestation. Ultrasound is accessible to all GP's and community midwives by direct referral, and includes a limited service at weekends.
Upon having a home birth or leaving hospital, new parents are supported in their own homes by the community midwifery service.
Full paediatric support services are available, including intensive care for pre-term babies (see neonatal unit information). Breastfeeding is promoted throughout the maternity service and is supported by a full-time infant feeding adviser. The Trust is committed to supporting mothers and birthing people to breastfeed and has UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditation.
