Welcome to Maternity Services. We hope you will find your pregnancy and birth an enjoyable experience. With your help, we aim to provide a programme of care to meet your individual needs.
In Ayrshire and Arran we offer a comprehensive, integrated maternity service within the hospital and community settings. You will be supported to make an informed choice as to where you will have your baby.
Please see the sections below for guidance during the various stages of pregnancy and giving birth. You can also consult NHS Inform’s Ready Steady Baby for further advice.
Ayrshire Maternity Unit
Ayrshire Maternity Unit is a purpose-built unit linked to University Hospital Crosshouse. It provides maternity services for the whole of Ayrshire.
The unit includes:
- Early Pregnancy Assessment Suite (EPAS)
- Maternity Assessment Unit
- Maternity Daycare
- Ultrasound Department
- Labour Suite
- Maternity Theatres
- Midwifery Suite
- Inpatient Ward
- Neonatal Unit
About Maternity Services
Quality standards
NHS Ayrshire & Arran aims to deliver the highest quality of healthcare services to the people of Ayrshire and Arran. The Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland (May 2010) details the three quality ambitions:
- Safe
- Person-centred
- Effective
These provide the focus for everything we do in our aim to deliver the best quality healthcare.
Improving the patient experience
We are committed to ensuring that all of our mothers and their families have a positive experience.
We are part of the Maternity and Children’s Quality Improvement Collaborative (MCQIC), a national initiative which aims to:
- ensure that the care women and babies receive is the safest possible
- improve women’s satisfaction with maternity services
Supporting new parents
Giving your child the best possible start in life is a priority.
In line with the Scottish Government’s ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’ (GIRFEC) and Early Years policy, we work to support parents, in partnership with other agencies, to ensure that the outcomes for all children improve.
This starts in pregnancy, with the midwife usually being the named person to ensure continuity and seamless care throughout the pregnancy journey. After your baby is born, the care is transferred to the health visitor or family nurse.
Looking ahead
Following the publication in January 2017 of the Best Start: A Five Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, our services have been under review and development and some changes may continue to take place during your pregnancy.
Rest assured these are in line with Scottish Government guidance and improving services.
Both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have a decision guide and other information you may find helpful on COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy. This is free to download and print. To book a place, please telephone AMU reception.