West Suffolk: Labour Suite

Facilities

Birthing rooms

4 (Juno, Hannah, Hestia and Venus)

Ensuite

4

Birthing pools

2

Theatres

Available via labour suite

Neonatal care

Available.

Equipment

Bean bags

Available

Telemetry (wireless monitoring)

Not available. Intermittent auscultation only

Reclining chair

Available

Aromatherapy service

Not provided, bring your own

Birth mats

Not available

TENS machine

Available

Hypnobirth friendly

Available

Birth balls

Available

Dimmable lighting

Available

LED candles

Available

Birth stool

Available

Supporting rope/sling

Not available

Audio facilities for iPod/phone

Available

Pain Management Options

Entonox

Available

Morphine Sulphate (Oramorph)

Available

Pethidine

Available

Epidural

Not available

Meptid

Not available

After Your Birth

Provision for Partners

Partners can stay with the birthing person throughout labour and birth at anytime of the day or night.

Your Stay After Birth

After you have given birth, midwives will continue to check you and your baby for a few hours to ensure you are both well and ready to go home.
If you or your baby need a little extra care following birth, it will be recommended you both stay on Lexden the postnatal ward where you can be monitored and cared for until you are ready to home.
If your baby needs further care or medical treatment from specialist doctors and midwives they may be admitted to the Neonatal unit, or you both may be transferred to transitional care.

Contact Information

Useful Contacts

Main telephone number 01284 712758

If in labour telephone number 01284 712723

Location

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
West Suffolk Hospital
Hardwick Lane
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 2QZ

By Bus

The main bus station is in St Andrew's Street North, a few minutes walk from the town centre. Mulleys Bus Company runs the M11/M22 bus service from here to the hospital and return; currently this runs at hourly intervals at 10 minutes past the hour arriving at the hospital at 27 minutes past. For timetable enquiries, please call Mulleys: 01359 230234. Stephensons Bus Company runs the Bury St Edmunds Town Breeze Service from here to the hospital and return; currently this runs at half hourly intervals, at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour arriving at the hospital at 25 and 55 minutes past. For timetable enquiries please call Stephensons: 01440 704583. For details of all buses in the Bury St Edmunds area log on to www.suffolkonboard.com

By Car

West Suffolk Hospital is located to the south of Bury St Edmunds town centre. It is within easy access of the A14. There are several car parks on site, labelled A, B, C, D & E. All patient and visitor parking is in the main front car park (A)

Visitor Information

Partner

No restrictions on partners during induction of labour or during labour and birth.

Refreshments are provided for birth partners. Onsite Café and M&S shop open until 8pm, downstairs near main entrance.

Your Own Children

After birth on postnatal ward 2:30pm - 8pm.

Friends and Family

During labour and birth - Only two designated birth partners

After birth on postnatal ward - (2 visitors per slot): 2.30pm - 4pm, and 7pm - 8pm.

Car Parking

Woman/Birthing Person in Labour

Drop off only outside of entrance. The main patients/visitors car park A is in front of the hospital, the first car park to the right as you enter the site.

Partner and Visitor

Hospital Car Park

Length of timePrice
Up to 30 minsFree
Up to 1 hour£2.20
Up to 2 hours£4.20
Up to 3 hours£6.40
Up to 4 hours£8.40
5 hours and over£12.70
Weekly ticket (7 days)£30.00

Cash and card options at pay machine - pay on exit or via a free app called Glide Parking.

Other Useful Information

Accessibility

Wheelchair access to Birthing Unit, Delivery suite and postnatal ward
Limited mobility: lifts available and disabled toilets/shower rooms
BSL Service not provided but can be booked in advance
Sight complexities - Guide dogs allowed in building
Additional learning needs - supported by specialist midwifery team
Neurodivergent - supported by specialist midwifery team

Accessibility Guides

AccessAble (formerly DisabledGo) provides accessibility information to work out if a place is going to be accessible to you.

Interpreting Service

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Face to face Interpreting service can be booked. Out of hours service available through language line
Prompt cards for different languages available

Neonatal Care

Neonatal unit onsite for babies requiring continuous medical and nursing care, due to prematurity or complex needs.

Specialist Midwifery Teams

Antenatal screening
Bereavement
Diabetes
Infant feeding
Vulnerable women
Dedicated Home birth community team
Community team
Teenage pregnancy support team

Specialist Clinics and Services

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Birth debrief service

“We aim to provide high quality care, responding to the needs of mothers and their babies, in a friendly and professional environment.”

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