Birthing centre will welcome new generation of Salfordians
SALFORD’S new birthing centre will finally open its doors in March – five months later than planned.
It means babies – other than those delivered at home – will be able to be born in the city for the first time since the maternity unit at Salford Royal Hospital closed in September last year.
Little Jax Scott Penman was the last baby to be born at the hospital.
The new centre is the only one of its kind in Greater Manchester.
Health chiefs had originally hoped to open Ingleside Birth Centre in October last year, but the opening was put back to this month due to the challenges of transforming ‘a Victorian mansion into a 21st century birth centre.’
Plans were then met with more delays. It has now been confirmed the facility, at Oakwood Park, will open in early March.
Women who have been identified as having a low-risk pregnancy, and who are not expected to require support from a doctor during birth, will be able to give birth at the freestanding midwifery-led unit, which will be run by midwives from Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.
The historic building, owned by Salford council, was refurbished after more than £130,000 was raised following a crowdfunding appeal.
Ingleside Birth Centre will have four birthing suites, each with its own birthing pool.
There is specialist mood lighting and high definition projectors displaying natural images and sounds.
Mums-to-be will also be able to play their own music.
Health bosses say they want to create a positive and relaxing place for women to give birth – and hope the facility will become a ‘community hub.’ Antenatal and postnatal clinics and classes, sessions on hypnobirthing, infant feeding support and a range of complementary therapies will also be on offer. Sue Ainsworth, head of Midwifery for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said: “Where a woman chooses to have her baby is so important to her and her family, and being able to provide our families with wider choices is at the heart of what we do.
“So much work has gone into making Ingleside the centre that we all hoped for, and it’s been a pleasure to work with our partners at Salford council and Salford CCG to see it come to fruition.
Coun Gina Reynolds, lead member for adult services, health and wellbeing at the town hall, said: “People are very proud of coming from Salford and have rallied behind this new centre, which will offer pioneering care for families.”
For booking information, women should first speak to their midwife – or email: ingleside@boltonft.nhs.uk.
People are very proud of coming from Salford and have rallied behind this new centre Coun Gina Reynolds