Fifty years ago it was commonplace to have your baby at home but, in recent years, fewer mothers have chosen this option as we were led to believe that giving birth in hospital was the safest option. However, the Birthplace Study in 2011 identified that home is, in fact, a safe environment for women who are healthy and having a straightforward pregnancy. There is a very low risk of problems for them or their baby. For more information on this study, please speak to your community midwife.

Our Heath in Pregnancy Support Service (HPSS) works alongside our midwives in community antenatal clinics and can also see women on a one to one basis in their homes, to support women and their families to make healthy choices.

The HPSS service has three key elements; however, they are happy to support you with any health advice/needs within their capacity.

Self refer by telephone: (01384) 244358

Antenatal Information and Support

Please find the link below for a PADLET of information regarding antenatal information and support courses, skin to skin, breastfeeding and building a happy baby.

bit.ly/DudleyANinfo

Postnatal Information and Support

Please find the link below for a PADLET of information regarding essential postnatal information including safe sleeping, responsive feeding and support contact details.

bit.ly/DudleyPNinfo

Your electronic patient record will continue following the birth of your baby.  You will also be given a red child health record (Red Book). These need to be available to the midwife for any postnatal checks that you may have. When seeing a community midwife, it is essential she has the opportunity to see both mother and baby, so please make you are both available.

Whilst we make every effort to maintain continuity, appointments may not always be with your named midwife. A midwife from a small team local to you will visit and we hope you and your baby will have the opportunity to see your named midwife again during your postnatal care.

If you have had a homebirth, the midwife who attended to support you will arrange a follow up visit.

Home visits are scheduled to take place by a community midwife anytime between 9am and 5pm. Please keep these days free and make sure you and your baby are available as we are unable to give specific times.

Some post-natal appointments will be held at post-natal clinics in the hospital or a community hub.

Water provides a private protected space which is calming and peaceful. It facilitates mobility which enables you to be in positions that are comfortable for labour and birth. It is also known for:

• Speeding up labour

• Giving mothers more feeling of control

• Providing significant pain relief

• Promoting relaxation

• Reducing the need for drugs and other interventions

• Reducing perineal trauma and episiotomies

• Encouraging a gentler welcome for baby

Two birthing pool are available on the Maternity Led Unit and Delivery Suite. Pools can also be arranged for homebirths. Speak to your community midwife for further information. 

Know the facts about baby movements  

Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well. If you notice that your baby’s movements have slowed down, changed or stopped, it may be a sign that your baby is not well.   

Contact your maternity unit immediately if you notice any changes to your baby’s movements. This could save your baby’s life. There are staff on the maternity unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   

Remember:  

• It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy. You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour. Your baby should move during labour too.  

• You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour and during labour.  

DO NOT WAIT until the next day to seek advice if you are worried about your baby’s movements.  

Maternity Triage is available 24/7. Call (01384) 456111 ext. 3053.

During your pregnancy you will have a named community midwife who will provide most of your antenatal care at your GP surgery.

The first time you see your Community Midwife they will show you how to access the Maternity online information. This will include a record of your pregnancy and should be available for access at all times, including if you go on holiday. They also provide very useful information to help you understand your pregnancy.

You should ensure that you have a device available with you to access the system when you attend for all appointments or treatment, including with the midwife, GP, antenatal clinic, health in pregnancy support etc.

During this first appointment, your medical, family and pregnancy history will be discussed and choices for your care will be offered, with referrals made appropriately. A personalised care plan will be developed, centred on yourself, your baby and your family, based around your needs and your decisions, enabling you to have genuine choices informed by unbiased information. The Screening tests for you and your baby leaflet (published by Public Health England) will be given to you and discussed. If you have misplaced your copy or would like to view this before your first antenatal appointment, please click the link above.

Other things we will discuss with you are:

• Birth place choice (consultant led care, midwifery led care, home birth)
• Scans of your baby
• Blood and urine tests
• Further appointments appropriate to your needs
• Vaccines offered to you later in your pregnancy
• Diet and lifestyle, including taking pregnancy vitamins
• Exercise in pregnancy
• Smoking and support available to quit
• Employment rights and maternity benefits

A urine sample bottle will be provided at this appointment for you to bring a urine specimen to all of your antenatal appointments.

Community midwives work in small teams and strive to provide continuity of care. Their contact number will be written on the front of your Mamma Wallet. Your GP may also be involved in your antenatal care. 

If you are booked under the care of a consultant obstetrician (a doctor who specialises in pregnancy), you will attend the antenatal clinic at Russells Hall Hospital for some of your appointments. However, your midwife and/or GP will still be involved in your care. You will be actively involved in any decisions about your care and if you have any concerns regarding these decisions, you should discuss these with your midwife or consultant. 

At The Dudley Group it is our belief that our employees are our most valuable asset. The health and well being of our staff makes an essential contribution to the success of the organisation and the care we provide to our patients. The Staff Health and Wellbeing Department’s core vision is to promote and maintain the highest degree of health, safety and well being of all staff.

Employees are most productive when they are working in an environment which supports their health and well being. Understanding the relationship between health and the workplace is fundamental to the success of any organisation. The range of services provided by Staff Health and Wellbeing is ideally placed to meet these needs. Access to the service offers the opportunity to explore the effect of work on health and the health and well being of employees at work.

Click here for the full range of services offered by Staff Health & Wellbeing

THIS PAGE IS UNDER REVIEW

The Dudley Integrated Liver Service aims to provide local residents with a population of around 450,000 with a high standard of Liver care within the hospital and outpatient setting.

Liver disease is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. The gastroenterology department within the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (DGNHSFT) is committed to providing high quality care to patients who have liver disease, in line with the Trust’s vision of “Excellent Healthcare, Improved Health for All.”

In order to try and improve services for patient’s with Liver disease, Dudley Integrated Liver Service was formed in 2021 to streamline and improve the patient experience.

The Dudley Integrated Liver Service (DILS) includes team members from a range of professional backgrounds including:
• Gastroenterologists
• Specialist Nurses – Hepatology and Alcohol care teams
• Ward and outpatient Nurses
• HCA
• Pharmacist
• Dieticians
• Physicians Associate

Having a diverse team of speciality staff allows us to offer our patients holistic and individualised care.

Who’s who

Medical Team

• Dr Harborne – Liver Lead – Consultant Gastroenterologist
• Dr Egbuonu – Medical Service Head – Consultant Gastroenterologist
• Dr Mahmood – BBV and Endoscopy Lead
• Dr Rattehalli – Consultant Gastroenterologist
• Dr Fisher – Consultant Gastroenterologist
• Dr Shetty – Consultant Gastroenterologist
• Dr De Silva – Consultant Gastroenterologist
• Dr King – Consultant Gastroenterologist
• Dr Frost – Consultant Gastroenterologist
• Professor lshaq – Consultant Gastroenterologist

Nursing Team

Alcohol Care Team

• Sam Morgan (Fisher), Lead Alcohol Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Jenna Perkins, Alcohol Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Josh Birch – Alcohol Care Nurse
• Aimee Smallman – Alcohol Care Nurse

Hepatology Team

• Louise Allen, Hepatology Nurse Consultant
• Mandy Pritchard, Hepatology Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Lauren Mansell, Hepatology Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Derrick Obeng, Hepatology Specialist Support Worker

Ward and Support Team

• Rachel Ormston, Matron for Gastroenterology
• Sarah Gregory, C7 Ward Manager
• Rotating on an annual basis – Gastroenterology Registrar
• Rotating on a 4 monthly basis – Junior Doctors
• Asem Ismail, Physicians Associate
• Vacant Post, DILS administrator

Services Offered

Inpatient services 

These are provided at Russells Hall Hospital [RHH], initially most patients are admitted from the Emergency Department and the acute medical services. If a longer admission is required, the team will complete your admission and place you on the most appropriate care pathway for your condition. We offer specialist review from Hepatology across all departments in the hospital, 7 days a week.

Ward C7 is the specialist Gastroenterology/Liver ward. 36 bedded general ward, with access to specialist procedure room and quiet area for relatives.

We welcome any feedback about the care you or a relative has received on the ward, please contact the nurse in charge or our ward manager, Sarah Gregory, should you wish to provide any feedback.

Visiting Times for Ward C7 are between 11am and 7pm

Outpatient services

Clinic appointments will be offered depending on the individual clinical need. You may need to see one of our doctors, hepatology specialist nurses or one of the team. Referrals are accepted from GP services, inpatient referrals and other relevant agencies and the referrals are triaged by a Consultant Gastroenterologist and allocated based on clinical need.

There is access to a range of diagnostic services including Fibroscan, radiology services, endoscopy, phlebotomy and a number of therapeutic interventions including day case paracentesis, and helpline support.

Should you need to contact us, please dial 01384 456 111 and ask to be connected to the relevant department.

Sites for consultation

• Russells Hall Hospital – Main outpatients
• Russells Hall Hospital – A2 Day Case Unit
• Russells Hall Hospital – GI Unit
• Russells Hall Hospital – AIR room
• Russells Hall Hospital – Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)
• Corbett Outpatient Centre
• Guest Outpatient Centre