Canberra’s Centenary Hospital for Women and Children can now welcome twice as many women and pregnant people following an expansion project.
Announced by Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith, the purpose-built Maternity Assessment Unit includes upgraded equipment and infrastructure, and an additional eight full-time equivalent midwives to support the changing model of care.
“This midwifery-led maternity unit will now provide eight bed spaces and has been relocated to be closer to the Birthing Unit, improving service efficiencies for women in need of pregnancy-related assessments,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“Canberra Health Services has also introduced a new model of care to accompany the new maternity unit, with a 24-hour, seven days a week service and a triaged-based system to ensure pregnant people get the right service at the right time,” she said.
“Women and pregnant people who need a maternity assessment during pregnancy or after birth can self-refer and call the service (02 5124 7444) to speak to one of the wonderful midwives.”
Ms Stephen-Smith also announced the completion of the hospital’s Gynaecology Day Unit, a new service that provides a dedicated procedure suite for adolescents and adult women who require gynaecological treatment.
“The new suite is equipped with its own change room and toilet and provides a more supportive environment for the sensitive, person-centred care each patient needs when they are feeling particularly vulnerable,” the Minister said.
“The suite has also been designed so it can share the reception, waiting and support services with Gynaecological outpatients to improve procedural flows within the service.
