Clinical Service

Maternity

Book online

Our maternity service cares for people who are pregnant before, during and after the birth of their babies.

Our dedicated team will look at your needs throughout each and every stage of your pregnancy to ensure that you have the right maternity support.

East Kent Hospitals offers a range of maternity care services in hospital, at the William Harvey Hospital and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital. We also provide maternity services in the local community and at your home to support your transition into family life. We support around 6,500 people a year who give birth with us.

Our aim is to keep you well informed so that you can make informed choices. Please do not hesitate to ask questions and seek advice at any time.

Book your pregnancy care with us

If you have recently found out you are pregnant and would like us to provide your care, you can contact us direct without the need to see your GP. There are many health benefits for you and your baby if you access maternity care as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test.

To book your pregnancy care with us simply complete the online self-referral form giving as much detail as possible.

Complete our online self-referral form

Seeing a midwife at an early stage will ensure you are given all the information that you need right from the start to help you make the right choices for you and your baby. Some routine tests must be carried out by the 10th week of pregnancy, so an early appointment with a midwife will enable you to discuss these tests and plan appropriately.

What to expect

Between 7-9 weeks pregnant, you will be contacted by a midwife either by phone, text or email to arrange the booking appointment. This generally happens over two separate appointments which usually takes place in the 10th week of pregnancy. At this appointment you will also receive details of your 12-week scan.

Birth partners and visitors

In labour we welcome birth partners to stay with you throughout your labour. In order to maintain privacy for you in labour, we recommend no more than two birth partners.

Folkestone and Kingsgate wards

We have extended visiting for partners/significant others (one person only) - 24hrs
4pm - 7pm general visiting and own children only

Please note: no other children are permitted in the ward areas and we respectfully request only two visitors for each woman at general visiting.

Coronavirus information

To help us look after you and your baby, it's really important to tell your midwife or maternity team if you test positive for Coronavirus.

If you have no symptoms, or mild symptoms, you will be advised to recover at home. If you have more severe symptoms, you might be treated in a hospital setting.

We are reminding everyone that only one partner can attend the scans and appointments. Two support people can attend the birth and one can be on the postnatal/antenatal ward 24/7.

Any partner displaying any symptoms of Coronavirus is asked to not attend the hospital.

Contact us

Who can I talk to?

If you are pregnant and have questions or concerns about your care during your pregnancy or labour, please talk to your midwife, who will be able to help you.

You can also contact the maternity service through our Maternity Facebook page @EKHUFTMaternity.

Your voice is heard

If you want to tell us about your experience of our maternity service, please contact our Maternity Patient Experience Team by emailing ekhuft.pem@nhs.net.

Questions about your baby’s birth

If you want to talk about your baby’s birth, experienced midwives can answer any questions you have. You can email us at ekh-tr.birthafterthoughts@nhs.net.

Do you need to complain?

If you need to make a complaint please talk to one of our matrons or ward managers, or you can contact our PALS team.

Do you want to talk to someone else?

If you would like to talk to someone who is independent of the East Kent maternity service, you can contact the Maternity Voices Partnership at eastkentMVP@gmail.com.