Maternity Services

Our Maternity department is a shared midwife and consultant service and managed the birthing of 5,931  babies last year.  We have a total of 186.47 whole-time equivalent midwives (nine of which are midwife specialist posts and midwifery managers).

Based on the 2010/11 birth figures, our midwife to birth ratio is 1:31. Note: This ratio includes the nine specialist/manager posts.  

Total number of deliveries (2010/11)

Total births	5,931
Emergency Caesarean	12.2%
Elective Caesarean	9.1%
Forceps	7.0%
Ventouse	4.2%
Induction	22.1%
Water birth	3.3%
Episiotomy	13.6%

Blakeney Ward and Cley Ward are our maternity wards (Cley is a shared obstetrics and gynaecology ward). Our Delivery Suite has 12 rooms (all with access to ensuite bathrooms) and one water birth pool (70 per cent of our midwives are trained in water births). Adjacent to the Delivery Suite are two obstetric operating theatres (one for elective patients and one for emergency patients) and our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Our new midwife-led Birthing Unit provides women with a "home-from-home" environment in which to give birth naturally. Our birthing unit has four birthing rooms all with en-suite shower rooms.  The rooms are sensitively decorated with soft lighting, audio equipment is available so that women can bring in their own music to create a homely and relaxing atmosphere.There are three birthing pools which women can use for labour and to give birth in if desired.

Typical Delivery Room

Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC)

Our Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC) aims to find out what local women want and need from maternity services and then help to develop services to meet those needs. The committee is made up of staff involved in providing maternity care and representatives of women who use the service. The members work together to monitor and improve the maternity services provided by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Click here for more information - Maternity Services Liaison Committee  

Contact Details

Based at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich