Refurbished maternity ward opens at Jersey's General Hospital

The maternity ward at Jersey's General Hospital has had a £6.4m upgrade.

The work has been done in phases over two and a half years.

It includes better temperature control, a bigger special care baby unit, birthing pools and ensuite delivery rooms.

The first midwife-led unit has also been introduced in the hospital. 

One of the new rooms in the maternity ward

Work started in the summer of 2021, with provisions made for builders to operate while the ward remained functioning.

That meant newborns being given ear defenders as a precaution:

Neonatal Unit Manager Anne Patterson pictured in January 2022 demonstrating the ear defenders issued to newborns during noisy construction work

Channel 103 caught up with some Jersey parents who experienced the ward with and without the new facilities. 

Meet Megan Stenhouse and baby Sibyl, who was born on 7 May: 

Megan Stenhouse and baby Sybil

Megan had her first child in the maternity ward in 2022. She says this birthing experience was worlds apart in comparison:

"It was different that's for sure. That's why this time around having a midwife-led experience was really important to me.

"Because having a previous section, it meant that this pregnancy was more high risk if I wanted to have a natural delivery. Being in this hospital in these new facilities gave me that choice. 

"It was just really peaceful and I got to use the pool which is what I wanted to do. 

"The midwife-led experience was just a lot more calmer, it's what I wanted to achieve from my birth."

Meet Barney and baby Maeve: 

Gordon Barney, 'Barney', and his daughter Maeve

Gordon Barney, 'Barney', experienced the maternity ward as a supporter to his partner Daniella who gave birth to their second baby Maeve on April 30.

He noticed some changes since the last time he was at the ward, for his and Daniella's first child being born: 

"It's a lot more relaxing I think. The last time we came around, some facilities looked a little tired and needed updating. 

"When Daniella just had her c-section and was resting, it was quite difficult sometimes as there was a lot of work taking place and a lot of drilling and things like that. 

"But being here now - wow! One of the birthing rooms had lots of little relaxing features on the walls. Just little touches that don't necessarily need to be there but are there, and just make the experience more relaxing."