MATERNITY FEATURE: High hopes are born from new investment

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT), which runs the site, last week announced a new contract with Kier to deliver major and minor works to three of its hospitals.

Boston’s maternity and gynaecology wards will be getting new ‘multi-purpose clinical accommodation’ – which will also be able to be used by other services in the hospital.

Director of estates Paul Boocock, Told the Standard that the works form the first phase of improvements on the site – which was built in the 1960s-70s.

He said: “This is part of our site rationalisation, where we have an aging part of the estate that we need to address and, by investing this way we can get new facilities and move the services that are in the existing building into improved facilities that will benefit staff and patients.”

Some wards will include two or three beds and en suite bathrooms, meaning patients won’t have to cross corridors to use the toilet.

Beverly Pearson, a ward sister who was part of drawing up the plans originally said: “The most exciting part for us is that we’re going to be able to provide state-of-the-art facilities.

“It’s going to be an environment that’s light, bright, airy with space and up-to-date facilities, lots of showers - things that are going to make peoples’ stay with us comfortable and more enjoyable.”

There will also be improvements to electrical facilities such as more plugs at appropriate heights so that modern electrical equipment can be safely, quickly and more easily plugged in.

It is also hoped this could help attract and retain more staff at the hospital as well as patients.

Gynaecology ward sister Michelle Caudwell added: “We want people to choose to come here.”