Accessing Care
Our aim at Harrogate is to make sure you have access to the right care, at the right time in the right place. Harrogate maternity services will review the information you provide and we will contact you back in a few weeks to start your pregnancy (antenatal) care.
The Maternity Unit delivers approximately 2,000 births annually and we welcome all people from Harrogate and the surrounding areas.
Our aim is to work in partnership, to provide you and your family a safe, friendly and effective service, aiming to deliver the highest standard of care throughout your pregnancy, birth and during the first few weeks following your baby’s birth.
Antenatal
After receiving your referral, we will invite you to attend a booking appointment so that we can find out more about you and your health, offer you a range of health screening options and give you information about what will happen next.
It is very important that you are seen regularly throughout your pregnancy, to monitor the heath of you and your baby.
If you are unable to attend your appointments for any reason, please contact your midwife as soon as possible so that an alternative appointment may be made.
Regular check-ups are an important part of keeping you and your baby healthy and can help identify and reduce any risks – even if you are feeling well it is still important to attend all of your appointments.
Before your appointment
Before attending your booking appointment it is important that you read the following information:
Screening tests for you and your baby in a variety of languages, can be found here
After your appointment
Following your booking, you will be invited to a series of appointments with your community midwife or obstetric doctors, as well as being offered screening information, ultrasound scanning appointments and access to other specialist health professionals if necessary.
We will offer you a choice about the location of your antenatal care provision. If you have underlying medical or obstetric conditions that might affect your pregnancy, you will be offered a level of care which includes more specialist consultant involvement. Women that have no complicating medical or obstetric factors will normally be offered care by the named community midwife at a variety of possible locations.
All care offered is based on National Institute for Health and Care Excellence antenatal care guidelines and is made around individual needs. Midwives have open access to the Obstetric Team, or the Maternity Assessment Centre for women who require investigation or inpatient care.
Staying healthy in pregnancy
Now that you are pregnant, there are many things that you can do to keep yourself and your baby healthy. The following links will give you useful information about improving your health and wellbeing.
- Exercise in pregnancy
- Stop smoking in pregnancy
- Weight management in pregnancy
- Nutrition and health eating in pregnancy
- Drinking alcohol while pregnant
- Drug misuse
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health
- Domestic abuse
- Alcohol
- Drug misuse
- Emotional Wellbeing and Mental health
- Domestic Abuse
Contact us
If you have any concerns during your pregnancy or postnatal period please contact us via our Single Point of Access 01423 557531.
Labour and birth
We aim to enable you to enjoy a positive and safe birth experience. We work in close partnership with you by providing information and choice at all stages of your care.
We have a passionate and committed team of midwives, supported by a range of multi-disciplinary colleagues, who will provide you with the highest level of care throughout your labour and postnatal recovery. All of our care pathways are based upon guidance and best evidence from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG).
For those experiencing birth in Harrogate District Hospital, we offer a range of facilities and services.
Our facilities
Our Delivery Suite comprises five dedicated delivery rooms, each with an en suite wet-room. We also have a birthing pool room. Here, we will support you to utilise a range of equipment to encourage an active birth experience with the opportunity for water birth. The room has an array of mood lighting for your enjoyment and to promote your relaxation and comfort.
We support all forms of pain relief, including an epidural service provided by our 24 hour anaesthetic cover.
The Maternity Unit also encompasses our triage Maternity Assessment Centre (MAC) and a dedicated obstetric operating theatre for emergency deliveries. This operating theatre sits adjacent to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).
Our team
Whatever the level of your medical or obstetric care requirements, we have a specialist team of consultant obstetricians, anaesthetists and their associated colleagues, who are based on the Delivery Suite and provide 24 hour cover. We also have a full team of other auxiliary staff. We are very pleased to support the training of the next generation of student midwives and nurses on clinical placement from our associate higher education institutions at the Universities of York and Bradford.
Contact us
Our Maternity Assessment Centre provides a triage service for women over 14 weeks gestation, to assist with any worries or concerns. If you suspect that you might be in labour or have any other pregnancy-related issue, we would request that contact is made through our single point of contact for maternity services 01423 557531.
Before 14 weeks’ gestation , please contact your GP or the Out of Hours Service (via 111).
Visiting times
Partners are welcome anytime, and anyone else is welcome to visit between 11am – 9pm on Pannal Ward.
For the health of all of our service users, we request that any visitors having recent diarrhoea, vomiting or possible infective illness avoid coming to the ward.
Location
The Delivery Suite is situated on the first floor in F Wing, adjacent to Pannal Ward and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).
Elective Caesarean
If you are planning to have an elective caesarean section for the birth of your baby, you will be seen in Antenatal Clinic by a consultant obstetrician. Once you have received the appropriate information from the consultant, you will also be required to sign your consent for the procedure during a consultant clinic appointment.
Any immediate questions or concerns you have regarding your elective caesarean section can be answered by the consultant obstetrician, during your antenatal clinic appointment.
In the majority of circumstances, elective caesarean sections are booked to take place between 39-40 weeks of pregnancy – unless stated otherwise by the consultant.
You will receive a telephone call informing you of your pre-operative assessment appointment and of your elective caesarean section date.
You will be informed of your elective caesarean section date approximately 7-10 days in advance.
If you have any routine enquiries regarding your caesarean section prior to your date of admission, please contact your named community midwife.
In exceptional circumstances, there are occasional situations where the date of your elective caesarean section is required to be changed at short notice. In the event of such situations, you would be notified of this via telephone.
Postnatal
The Delivery Suite is able to support an early transfer home if you and your baby are both well following the birth. However, for those women wishing to take advantage of our postnatal care and support, we can offer postnatal facilities on Pannal Ward.
Pannal Ward
Pannal Ward is a mixed antenatal and postnatal ward with 16 beds. A limited number of these beds are in single occupancy rooms, some of which also have en-suite shower room facilities. These rooms are prioritised based on clinical need and cannot be booked. It is important to be aware that the same high standard of care will be provided both to women occupying amenity rooms and those on the main ward.
We also facilitate transitional care for babies requiring an enhanced level of support.
Being discharged from Pannal Ward
Breastfeeding
Harrogate is a Baby Friendly Hospital, and has been fully accredited by UNICEF UK since 2002. All of our staff members are fully trained in infant feeding and can support you with whatever choices you make. We do encourage all mothers to consider breastfeeding and you will have an opportunity during pregnancy to discuss your thoughts and feelings around feeding and caring for your baby with your midwife. Further information can be found on your Badgernet notes or via https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/support-for-parents/. Your choice around feeding your baby will always be respected and supported.
Visiting times
Your birthing partner can remain with you 24 hours a day throughout your stay on Pannal ward. Visiting hours for additional visitors are 11am – 9pm. Two people are permitted to visit per bedside.
Please note with the exception of siblings no children are permitted for visiting.
For the health of all our patients, we request that any visitors having recent diarrhoea, vomiting or possible infective illness avoid coming to the ward. Thank you.
Accessing care and facilities
Do you know where you are going?
Sign posting you to the correct area or ward can be important for your care. If you are unsure please call the single point of access: 01423 557531
Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU)
Referral by a health professional between 6-13 weeks of pregnancy
Open: Mon-Fri and Sunday 08.30-14.30.
Location: Ground floor, wing B, B008
Contact: 01423 555373
Antenatal Clinic (ANC)
From your booking appointment right through to the postnatal period. You may be seen in antenatal clinic for appointments with the consultant, specialist midwives or for a ultrasound scan in your pregnancy. We also have community midwife appointments at a weekend in ANC.
Open: 8.30-17.30 Monday-Friday.
Location: Ground floor, wing F, F003
Community midwife appointments (CMW)
Appointments are normally held at the GP surgery unless indicated otherwise. Your postnatal care appointments in the community might be at home or in ANC. Please speak to your community midwife to find out more.
Antenatal Day Unit (ANDU)
For scheduled appointments in pregnancy for additional monitoring and assessment.
Open: Monday, Wednesday and Friday (08.30-17.00)
Location: Ground floor, wing F003 within ANC.
Maternity Assessment Centre (MAC)
Emergency admissions or urgent concerns from 14 weeks of pregnancy.
Open: 24/7, depending on the time of the day or night assessment might take place on delivery suite.
Location: First floor, wing F, F104
Delivery Suite (CLWS)
For labour and delivery support or acute admissions from 14 weeks of pregnancy.
Open: 24/7
Visiting: 11am-9pm
Location: First floor, wing F, F104
Pannal Ward (Pan) – antenatal and postnatal ward
For admissions in pregnancy (antenatal) and after you have had your baby (postnatal).
Open: 24/7
Visiting: 11am-9pm
Location: First floor, wing F, F103.
Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
For admissions for baby’s either planned or emergency. Baby’s born below 32 weeks or requiring more intensive care are transferred to larger regional units by EMBRACE, a dedicated transfer team.
Open: 24/7
Visiting: 11am-9pm, parents 24/7
Location: First floor, wing F, F106.
Contact: 01423 553188
