Mediclinic Newcastle’s Maternity Ward is more than just a place where women come to give birth. It is a state-of-the-art facility where highly trained and dedicated healthcare professionals are committed to providing exceptional client care for expectant mothers and their newborns. The private hospital’s expert nurses and doctors are dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of care, comfort, and safety during one of the most momentous times in a family’s life.
Sister Gwen Williams, the Unit Manager of Mediclinic Newcastle’s Maternity Ward and a distinguished recipient of the prestigious International Daisy Awards, offers valuable insights into the operations and philosophy of the ward.
Under her leadership, the ward has become a trusted haven for many families, where they confidently entrust the care of their loved ones to the unit’s capable hands.
Moreover, at Mediclinic Newcastle, the highly committed team understands the profound importance of the birthing experience. Therefore, the Maternity Ward is equipped with the latest medical technology and amenities designed to support both mother and baby. From prenatal care to postpartum support, the team is dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care, ensuring a positive and memorable birthing experience for all patients.
The ward’s commitment to excellence is reflected in every aspect of Mediclinic Newcastle’s maternity services, from individualised birth plans to continuous professional development for the hospital’s staff. During 2023, the ward received the prestigious Ronel van Dyk Client Experience trophy for the best client experience ward for 10 consecutive months.
Furthermore, Mediclinic Newcastle takes pride in creating a nurturing environment that promotes the health and well-being of both mother and child, making the medical facility’s Maternity Ward a stand out choice for expecting moms in the region.
To provide moms-to-be with peace of mind and what they can expect when arriving at the Maternity Ward, Sister Williams explained the following. “The process starts with an admission file. If the mother is alone and in labour, she will come directly to the ward, and we will get reception to come and admit her. But if she is accompanied by her partner or a relative, they will need to open a file at reception first before coming to the ward, where we will welcome them and allocate a bed.”
From there, the Maternity Ward team will conduct the necessary assessments as midwives, taking the lead in evaluating the condition of the expectant mother. They will then contact the respective doctor, who will provide instructions for managing her care. If the mother is in active labour, she will be promptly taken to the labour ward to prepare for delivery by the time the doctor arrives. The same process applies to women undergoing a caesarean section.
If a pregnant woman arrives at the maternity ward feeling unwell, the nursing staff will assess her condition, contact her doctor, and commence treatment based on the doctor’s telephonic instructions while awaiting the doctor’s arrival.
During an expecting mother’s stay at the maternity ward, the team, which is 17 members strong, will assist on the day of delivery, monitoring the well-being of both the newborn and mother, to ensure they can be united as soon as possible. “We bathe the baby after four to six hours, depending on the mother’s condition. We assist the mother with breastfeeding, and if she is not breastfeeding, we help with bottle feeding and nurse the babies at the mother’s bedside,” explained Sister Williams. She also noted that if the mother needs rest, the nursing team will take the baby and monitor the infant closely.
Adding to this, Sister Williams highlighted that the Maternity Ward has 24 beds, including four private rooms. These rooms are two-bedded with shower and toilet facilities; however, there is a bath in the unit for mothers with stitches.
While private rooms require an additional fee, Sister Williams said, “Sometimes, mothers are lucky and if the ward is full, we will put them in the private rooms. Also, if the ward is not busy, we try to allocate one mother per room and will then add more as it gets full. If a mother prefers not to share a room, she will need to pay extra for a double room.”
She further mentioned that, besides the spacious and well-kept rooms, the Maternity Ward also boasts two large labour wards where babies are delivered.
According to Sister Williams, the team tries to keep pregnant mothers on one side of the ward and women who have just given birth on the other side. In addition and emphasising the importance of patient safety, Sister Gwen Williams pointed out that the Maternity Ward is secured with restricted access, allowing only authorised personnel to enter.
Once mothers have welcomed their newborns and wish to receive visitors, visiting hours are from 10 am to 8 pm.
Elaborating further on this, Sister Williams added that the Maternity Ward prefers a maximum of three visitors at a time due to space constraints and to maintain a peaceful environment for mothers and babies to rest. Siblings are allowed to visit, but children under 12 must be supervised. However, fathers and birthing partners are permitted to enter at 9 am during the week for birth registrations.
“Home Affairs comes to Mediclinic Newcastle everyday of the week (Mondays to Fridays) to the Ward to register your baby, and you can get your baby’s birth certificate before you go home,” she explained.
Offering a final bit of insight into the process, Sister Williams assured that expecting mothers had nothing to worry about as the Maternity Ward is a family-centred unit.
“The nurses are passionate about what they do, and we promote respectful, safe patient care. The Maternity Ward also offers foetal monitoring during pregnancy and labour, where the doctor can access an app on his/her phone for live CTG monitoring. The nurse will call the doctor if she is concerned, and the doctor can see the live CTGs in real-time. We call it telly-space monitoring, a state-of-the-art programme Mediclinic has invested in,” highlighted Sister Williams, adding “We are also focused on pain management for mothers during labour and post-delivery. We can also offer mothers tea, coffee, and snacks 24 hours a day, which is different from many other facilities.”
Through two independent finance houses, patients have the option to finance their birth over a period of time, Mediclinic Newcastle now also welcomes our patients from Ladysmith.
For comprehensive support and care in welcoming your baby into the world, be sure to contact Mediclinic Newcastle.
