THE maternity ward at Harlow's Princess Alexandra Hospital is set for a revamp following a successful bid for government funding.

The bid for £868,274 was submitted to the Department of Health after Health Secretary Alan Milburn confirmed in May that extra funding to carry out capital improvements would be available.

The Harlow unit is among 209 maternity wards across the country to share £100m.

More than £2m has been secured by North Essex Health Authority on behalf of the Princess Alexandra Health Trust, Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust and Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust.

Cleanliness, privacy and equipment are among the areas set for improvement over the next two years.

Improvements at Harlow include redecoration, the upgrading of all bathroom, toilet and kitchen facilities, the provision of a day assessment unit, an early pregnancy unit, a 'home from home' delivery area, partner's room and bereavement room, refurbishment of the nursery in the post natal room and improvements to storage and security.

Trust chief executive Gary Belford is delighted the bid was successful.

He said: "Our midwives provide a first-rate service but the maternity unit leaves a lot to be desired. The furnishings and overall environment are still stuck back in the 1960s. We will now be able to give the unit a complete facelift during the next few months, ensuring we have a 21st century unit to match the 21st century maternity services provided by our staff."

North Essex Health Authority has described the cash as "a marvellous shot in the arm for local maternity services which will enable significant improvements to be carried out."

Harlow MP Bill Rammell recently visited the unit to meet staff and discuss their plans for the refurbishment of the ward.

He said: "I'm delighted. This is very, very good news. I wrote to Alan Milburn lobbying that Princess Alexandra was well in need of this kind of renovation.

"I think it will make a real difference to maternity services in Harlow and is an excellent example of how extra funding, needed for so many years, is coming through."

October 17, 2001 9:04