Grimsby hospital redesigns triage unit for maternity emergencies
Enhanced facility aims to streamline urgent pregnancy care
Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby is set to redesign its specialist maternity triage unit to better support individuals with urgent pregnancy-related concerns.
The unit will provide a dedicated, self-contained space for those experiencing reduced fetal movements, bleeding, or abdominal pain during or after pregnancy.
The redesign is based on guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), focusing on offering privacy and timely, 24-hour assessments to expectant parents.
Nicola Foster, Head of Midwifery at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust, explained that funding has also been secured for new trolleys to assist with emergency treatments.
"We’ve had a triage space for some time but we’ve secured funding to create a separate unit, so it’s a much better experience for anyone needing the service," Foster said.
The new unit will allow the Maternity Triage team of midwives and maternity support workers to focus on triage without being drawn away to other areas of the department.
Maternity Triage services were initially introduced following the Ockenden Maternity Review of 2022, which highlighted that medical staff on labour wards were being diverted from active labour care due to non-labour related issues.
The RCOG recommended establishing Maternity Triage Services as an emergency gateway for pregnancy and postnatal concerns.
Grimsby's Maternity Triage Service began in October 2022 as a telephone helpline before launching physical spaces on Jasmine Ward and Ward 26 a year later.
Between 2022 and 2024, about 16,500 individuals utilised the service, either via the helpline or in face-to-face assessments.
Anyone with concerns from 16 weeks into pregnancy can contact the helpline at 03033 306657 to speak to a midwife 24 hours a day, potentially leading to an in-person hospital assessment.
The redesign includes the fitting of new doors to the Jasmine Ward triage area on the first floor of the Family Services building, allowing it to operate around the clock, every day of the week.