Babies born at The Moncton Hospital will soon be welcomed in a brand-new, innovative space.
A new 27,000-square-foot obstetrics and newborn care unit will officially open later this spring.
The project is a partnership involving the province, Horizon Health Network and the Friends of the Moncton Hospital Foundation.
“The new obstetrics and newborn care unit will strengthen the already excellent maternal and neonatal care provided at The Moncton Hospital,” Health Minister John Dornan said in a news release.
“Newborns, their families and our dedicated staff will benefit from having a full spectrum of services under one roof in a modernized, comfortable and family-centred environment.”
The new unit centralizes services such as labour and birth, the neonatal intensive care unit, integrated antepartum and postpartum care and related clinics. It also features maternal fetal medicine, breastfeeding support and clinics offering follow-up care after discharge.
Nearly 1,200 babies are born at the hospital each year and 200 are admitted to the neonatal ICU. There are also more than 3,500 visits to the maternal fetal medicine clinic.
“This modern unit enhances the experience for patients and families while providing our care teams with a space that supports excellence in compassionate care,” Margaret Melanson, president and CEO of Horizon Health, said in a release.
The space will also give families, staff and physicians access to the latest technology, such as wireless fetal monitors.
The province contributed nearly $34 million toward the project while the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation raised more than $10 million.
“The obstetrics and newborn care unit will help the exceptional health-care team at The Moncton Hospital deliver world-class care to our neighbours and community,” said campaign chair Robert K. Irving.
Officials said the unit is named after Irving’s mother, Jean Elizabeth Saunders Irving.
