Staff given preview of birthing suites at Baird Family Hospital

Published: 27/06/2023 14:32

NHS Grampian staff have been given a sneak peek of what birthing suites will look like at a new multi-million-pound hospital.   

With construction well under way on NHS Grampian’s Baird Family Hospital, thoughts are starting to turn to what the finished facility will look like and how it will be fitted out.   

To help in the process contractors created a sample room, to allow staff to see how things will look and help inform final decisions around furniture and decorating.   

The hospital, at the Foresterhill Health Campus, in Aberdeen, will feature single bed birthing suites which will be between 26-32m² – compared to the current rooms at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital at 16-20m².   

The Sample Room
The Sample Room
The Sample Room

Equipment commissioning manager for the project, Tracey Shanks said: “The sample room has given staff a real feel for the environment they will be treating patients in for decades to come, and their reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. 

“We’ve involved the staff at this stage to help us make decisions around decor and furnishing – showing them the sample room has really helped them envisage this properly.   

“Many commented on the extra space, the layout, and the quality of the finish.   

“Mums-to-be will benefit massively from these new rooms.  

“The rooms will also have capacity for their partner to stay as long as they want – with space in the current hospital this isn’t always possible. We really have tried to improve the patient experience with these new rooms.”   

Equipment commissioning manager for the project, Tracey Shanks , outside The Baird Family Hospital
Equipment commissioning manager for the project, Tracey Shanks , outside The Baird Family Hospital

Feedback from staff who visited the room included: 

  • “Very spacious bright and modern”   
  • “A built-in wardrobe is an added bonus” 
  • “Inbuilt safe adds extra security for the patient”   
  • “Visit was very useful to visualise what the rooms will look like”   
  • “Love the space around the birthing pool”   
  • “Loved it! So spacious”   
  • “Great opportunity to see how it will look. Looks a great room”   
  • “Very impressed with the size of room”   
  • “Looks great can’t wait to work here”   

Supporting NHS Grampian, The Archie Foundation is determined to play its part in ensuring the Baird Family Hospital is welcoming to patients, staff and visitors.   

It is hoping to raise £2m, which will help fund upgrades across a wide range of facilities – including, for example, enhanced birthing pools in the new Baird building, and contributing to art and environmental enhancements. 

For more information please visit www.bairdanchor.org/fundraising   

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The hospital will include all of the services currently provided at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital (AMH) as well as other clinical services which are located on the Foresterhill site:   

  • Maternity Services including a Community Maternity Unit   
  • Gynaecology Services   
  • Breast Services   
  • Neonatology Services   
  • Aberdeen Centre for Reproductive Medicine   
  • Radiology Services   
  • Operating Theatres   
  • Research and Teaching Facilities   
  • Non-Clinical Support Services   

As all of these services are currently provided on the Foresterhill Health Campus, the new hospital will not increase the number of patients attending the site.   

The hospital will be located towards the west of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH). There will be physical connections from the new hospital to both RACH and to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).   

Key project facts:   

  • The hospital will be around 26,000m² in size, with over 1,000 rooms.   
  • The hospital will have physical links into Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital to allow easy transfer for patients.   
  • The hospital will open for patients in September 2024