UHSM Opens New Maternity Triage Unit
“The opening of the maternity triage facility means that we can offer a more streamlined service for our women, and we can not only see them more quickly but also make sure they are seen by the most appropriate member of the team.”
Helen Thompson
Head of Midwifery
UHSM has proudly opened its new maternity triage unit to its first patients. Staffed by midwives and healthcare workers, the unit sees women from 16 weeks gestation onwards with any problems with their pregnancy or in early labour.
The unit, which contains four bays, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the staff will take telephone referrals from the women themselves or from GPs and community midwives. Triage staff will be able to assess women and give them appropriate advice on whether they need to come in to the unit, stay at home or be seen by a doctor or their GP.
Head of Midwifery Helen Thompson anticipates that the triage unit will assess around 700 women a month, giving them the best possible advice on their labour or pregnancy.
The triage facility is accessed via the Maternity Centre reception and is co-located with the Delivery Suite and Birth Centre. Ultimately, it will help staff to manage demand on Delivery Suite better, by ensuring only those women who need to go there and are ready to deliver are transferred there.
The creation of the triage unit is part of a £20m redevelopment and expansion of the Women's & Maternity Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, which will be completed by early 2012.