Planning permission has been approved for a three storey, new build extension and refurbishment of the Maternity Unit at QEQM Hospital in Margate.
The works will create a second obstetrics theatre, more delivery rooms, a relocated special care baby unit, bereavement suite and associated support spaces.
Last year maternity services at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate were rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
But the inspection also found that the outdated hospital buildings meant some clinical areas and labour rooms were too small and lacked en-suite facilities.
The Trust was then given £1.8m to progress a business case for the development of the maternity unit to increase the size of labour rooms and provide a second obstetric theatre for caesarean sections.
NHS outsourcing company 2Gether Support Solutions applied for planning permission to carry out the works which also include a new car park area and a new sub-station for the power requirements of the maternity unit.
Most of the existing spaces fall well below the recommended sizes with existing delivery rooms approximately 50% smaller that the recommended area which limits access for the clinical team, patient and supporting equipment during a birth.
Documents submitted by Lee Evans Partnership say: “In the maternity unit’s current configuration, if the single theatre is out of action patents have to be taken a considerable distance through the hospital streets whilst in labour to the main operating theatres.
“It is therefore vital to have a second theatre to avoid these issues and improve privacy and dignity of patients.”
The existing maternity building was constructed in 1966. The new build will include refurbishing the current delivery area and rebuilding the rooftop plantroom.
The current Delivery Suite (Labour Ward) is described as “not fit for purpose,” as is the current Special Care Baby Unit.
The vacated Special Care Baby Unit will undergo a light refurbishment to create office accommodation for administrative staff, establish a dedicated simulation/training suite and provide additional storage, freeing up space in the neighbouring Birchington Ward.
The project will result in two Obstetrics Theatres with support facilitates in the new extension; three recovery bed bays adjacent to theatres; staff changing and rest area for theatre and delivery staff and bereavement suite at ground floor close to delivery rooms and theatres with its own discrete entrance.
Work will also remodel and enlarge existing delivery rooms and relocate the existing special care baby unit (SCBU) to new first floor accommodation in the extension.
The aim of the project is to create “clinical spaces fit for 21″ century healthcare provision.”
Construction is expected to start this August/September and be completed by the first quarter of 2029.
Good news for the hospital that has been in the plans for a while all of a sudden this announcement unfortunately politics trying to improve things a lot of money has been spent at the qeqm hospital for a number of years as a patient rep and place inspector s lot of the funds came from the previous government anyone remember the fight we had years ago to keep the qeqm A&E and other campaigns the people pulled through in Thanet. Brian Smith Stewart