Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest provider of acute hospital services in Surrey, servicing more than 380,000 people. Opening on the 5 May 2014 on the International Day of the Midwife, this is the first purpose built Midwifery Led Birth Unit in England. A unique NHS facility in the local area it offers an ideal ‘home from home’ setting for women seeking a natural and positive birth experience. The centre has a look and feel very different to a traditional labour ward, with care led by the hospital’s friendly team of midwives who feel very passionately about promoting and supporting natural birth whenever possible. The Abbey Birth Centre, situated next to the existing maternity unit (Abbey Wing) at St Peter’s Hospital, has been purpose built to provide a homely and relaxing environment, where women who have normal and uncomplicated pregnancies and want to give birth in a less clinical setting. There are four en-suite birthing rooms, three with pool facilities and extra touches such as iPod docking stations and enclosed, private outside garden spaces for each birthing room. With this new unit Ashford & St Peter’s Hospital will be offering something unique and will have the widest range of services in the area – from a natural birth centre to high risk maternity services, including a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit.Back