A facelift for the Muswellbrook Maternity Unit

Major refurbishment work has started on the main birthing suite in the maternity unit at Muswellbrook District Health Service.

The first phase of renovation works has been made possible thanks to the help of the Muswellbrook community.

Muswellbrook Hospital Maternity Unit Manager Helen Scott said new mothers will be delighted with the improvements, with a new bath and a three-directional shower to be installed and more space for the staff and patients.

“It’s exciting that we are beginning this stage of the refurbishment, the renovation will convert the maternity unit into a more user-friendly environment for women in labour with a new décor,” Ms Scott said.

“This project would not have been possible but for the commitment of the Muswellbrook community, who in partnership with Hunter New England Health raised around $36,000 to kick-start the construction works,” she said.  

The renovations will take around six weeks to complete, with no expected reduction in services over the construction period.

Staff will aim to keep disruptions to the minimum.

Upper Hunter Cluster General Manager Dr Debbie Jaggers said the ongoing support from the community will help HNE Health to upgrade this facility, so new mothers and their babies will have the best possible accommodation during birth.

The facility was originally built about 1932 as an isolation ward associated with the old Brentwood Hospital, it was renovated around 1962 into a maternity unit. Around 240 babies are born at the facility each year.

Contact: Kylie Dawson

Phone: (02) 6767 7136 or 0408 667 299