CMM2 - Antenatal / Post natal ward

The CMM2 of the antenatal/postnatal ward has a pivotal role in service planning, co-ordinating and managing activity, care planning and delivery, and resources within the clinical area. The main responsibilities are quality assurance, resource management, staff and staff development, practice development, facilitating communication and professional / clinical leadership within the unit, wider hospital and community.

TippUH Maternity had on average 1000 deliveries per year over the past five years.

It provides a valuable service to the women and families of Tipperary and surrounding counties. The hospital continues to evolve in line with The National Maternity Strategy. The Maternity Unit is part of Ireland South Women and Infants Directorate (ISWIN). The Maternity Unit staff are a dynamic team and strive to achieve the best outcomes possible for all the women and families that use their services. It has been successful in implementing several of the objectives set out in the strategy e.g. Ultrasonography, Bereavement, Lactation Services and Perinatal Mental Health Services. Development is currently underway to develop Community Midwifery based services. Funding has been assigned for a cAMP/AMP Supported Care Pathway, start date awaited.

Maternity Services in TippUH provide a range of antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care, including a SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit). The service offers:

A 20 bedded unit providing antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care

A Special Care Baby Unit with 5 cots providing care to babies over 32 week’s gestation, including repatriation of babies from other units.

2 delivery/ labour ward rooms with a 24-hour epidural service, option for an emergency Category 1 LSCS on the Labour ward, with theatre suites in Main Theatre to support both elective and emergency Caesarean Sections and any other surgical procedure which may be required e.g. repair of tears /MROP.

Hospital outpatient antenatal clinics held on site Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Outreach antenatal clinics are located in Primary Care Centres in Tipperary Town, Thurles, Carrick on Suir and Cahir.

Face to face or virtual bookings (via phone) available three mornings per week, including phlebotomy.

Fetal Assessment Unit available three afternoons per week.

The Midwifery led service caring for women in the Supported Care Pathway although established, is currently being redeveloped, including Early Transfer Home.

Face to face off site Antenatal Education Classes in conjunction with a Multidisciplinary Team are currently in place.

The Scanning Department provides booking, anatomy, growth, placental location and reassurance scans.

Emergency Gynae Room in operation 24/7 staffed by midwife and NCHD.

Recent developments include the total refurbishment of the Maternity unit, with implementation of an induction of labour room and cables CTG monitoring to support women in labour. Plans are in place to install CTG archiving.

The upgrade to Viewpoint 6 and implementation of Video Enabled Care in caring for women with gestational diabetes have been recent developments. Video interactive care for women accessing the perinatal mental health service have commenced.

New development plans in place for a new build Maternity Unit.