Facilities
William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford has more than 4,000 births annually. The obstetricians and midwives work hard as a team to keep birth normal and intervene only when necessary.
At William Harvey there is a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) which looks after premature babies from 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Singleton midwifery led unit: This midwife led unit is located at William Harvey Hospital close to the consultant led ‘traditional’ labour wards. The unit is run by midwives to encourage and support normal birth.
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate
The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate has approximately 2,800 births a year. It too offers specialist obstetric care for women with complications and anaesthetists providing the same service as that at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. The special care baby unit takes babies born after 28 weeks. Those babies born earlier or who are very sick are transferred to William Harvey Hospital.
St Peters midwifery led unit: This midwife led unit is located at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hosptial close to the consultant led ‘traditional’ labour wards. The unit is run by midwives to encourage and support normal birth.
Canterbury birth centre and Dover family birthing unit
These midwife led units are termed ‘stand alone’ units, that although they are located in hospital settings they operate independently and specialised doctors, obstetricians or paediatricians are not available on site. If additional medical care is needed women have to be transferred to Ashford or Margate.
UPDATE: Canterbury birth centre is temporarily closed for births, but all other birthing services including education classes and breast feeding support are open as usual.
