New Maternity Unit at the L&D

Work's now underway for a new maternity unit at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital.

It's the final 4 months of work before it's full open, but from today, there's big changes for mums-to-be to negotiate.
 
The main entrance to the maternity unit will be closed at night from 6pm - 6am on Tues 9, Weds 10 & Thurs 11 February 2010.
 
Security staff will be posted at the entrance to direct women and visitors to the correct entrance during this time.
 
· You will be directed to the maternity side entrance at these times: it will be clearly marked and is under the covered walkway.
 
· The car park in front of maternity will be closed from Monday 8 February until the end of May to allow construction and other works to take place.
 
· Alternative parking is in the St Mary's Wing car park which is accessed off the A505 Dunstable Road.
 
Peter Moffat, General Manager for Women and Children's Services says "We are very pleased that our plans for a new midwifery led unit are now going ahead. As with all building work there will be temporary disruption to the site - mainly affecting the entrance and car park for maternity and we apologies to all expectant mums for any inconvenience this may cause."
 
"I can confirm that there will be absolutely no disruption to the service we offer to the 5,000 women who have babies born at the L&D each year. Building a midwifery-led unit means we will have more midwives who will manage any uncomplicated pregnancies in the unit freeing up our specialist staff to concentrate on women who have complicated pregnancies or health risks."
 
The hospital has written to mums-to-be about the building works and temporary disruptions.
Pregnant women are advised to contact their community midwife if they have any concerns or questions about the building works or access to the maternity unit.
 
The new midwifery-led unit is an exciting development to improve the service offered to pregnant women and it will open early in the summer 2010.