The $250 million Griffith Base Hospital will offer modern and welcoming maternity and birthing services designed to enhance patient experience and provide safe, comfortable antenatal, birthing and postnatal care for Griffith women.
Located on level one, the significantly larger Maternity and Birthing Unit features 12 inpatient beds in a mix of eight single and two double rooms, each with a private ensuite and large windows for natural light.
Two birthing rooms feature large immersion baths and calming graphics of native plants to create a serene environment.
Two maternity assessment rooms provide space for ongoing care before and after birth.
A four-bed Special Care Nursery ensures newborns receive specialised care when needed.
A dedicated family lounge, infant feeding room, and waiting area offer improved comfort for mothers and families.
A meeting room is available for private discussions between patients, families, and medical staff.
Nurse Unit Manager, Cathy Davis (pictured, below), shared her excitement about the new unit. She said staff are looking forward to working in the improved facilities and larger work environment that will allow them to focus on providing a more family-centered model of care.
The new birthing rooms are designed to create a home-like environment with the benefit of reducing stress and promoting physiological birth.
"The large birthing rooms will create a calmer, less clinical environment, helping women feel more at ease during labor. The inclusion of baths offers pain relief options and supports those choosing water births."
Quieter, more private inpatient rooms will allow mothers to rest and bond with their newborns.
"The inpatient rooms will improve recovery by giving mothers a comfortable space to rest and focus on their baby. The special care nursery’s resuscitation bay and monitoring systems provide peace of mind with quick intervention for newborns needing extra support," she said.
The new design includes expanded clinical workspaces, storage, two staff stations, and a staff room, making day-to-day operations more efficient. Floor-to-ceiling windows at the end of each corridor provide natural light and scenic views of Griffith, enhancing the overall environment.
"Women will respond very positively to the new maternity and birthing suite environment, as they will not only see the pleasant physical setting but also feel the enhanced comfort it provides. The new unit will create a calmer, more personalized birth and postnatal experience for women, their babies, and families”, said Cathy Davis.
The Maternity Unit will enjoy ready access to the operating rooms just a short corridor away, enhancing clinical safety for women and their babies.
For women seeking antenatal care, the Pregnancy Care Clinic and Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service will be conveniently located on the ground floor in the Specialist Clinics area. The maternity and birthing unit is located on level one.
Patients, visitors and carers should continue to use the existing drop-off zones, carpark and old hospital main entry to access the new hospital.