Maternity
What we do
The service provides full maternity care for women who give birth at Whipps Cross University Hospital.
Bookings for women within the borough are carried out by the Community Midwives, with out of area bookings undertaken within the hospital Antenatal Clinic.
Antenatal care is community based for all women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Midwives and GPs have direct referral access to consultant clinics and the Day Assessment Unit if complications should occur.
Our services:
Our services include:
Antenatal clinic- Provides consultant-led antenatal clinics with Consultant Diabetologist and team, Consultant Anaesthetic clinic and Consultant Haematologist each attending one session per week. Obstetric ultrasound is carried out in the main ultrasound department (this is in the main part of the hospital) with the dating scan service carried out in the Antenatal clinic.
- Links with other specialist services are also available on site, for example with HIV services.
- Blood testing and Physiotherapy services are available within the department.
Delivery Suite
- Nine single delivery rooms
- A four-bedded bay for high risk inductions
- Two high dependency rooms
- Two obstetric theatres
Magnolia Ward
This ward includes the Day Assessment Unit and five amenity rooms.
Lilac Birth Centre
This offers a home-from-home environment for low-risk births. Women can choose to give birth in a room free from machinery or in one of the birthing pool (depending on availability). The emphasis of the unit is on creating a natural environment to promote a stress-free birth.
There are five delivery rooms (two containing birthing pools) and a sensory room. There is a four-bedded bay which accommodates postnatal women.
Community Midwifery Service
This team managers and runs antenatal, booking and postnatal clinics in GP surgeries, health centres and children centres.
Mulberry Ward
This is a 24-bedded postnatal ward consisting of five four-bedded bays with four single rooms.
Maple Ward
This is a 20-bedded antenatal ward made up of of six four-bedded bays with four single rooms.
How to contact us
Antenatal Clinic
Ante-natal appointments are available Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
You can contact the clinic on 020 8539 5522 extension 5732 or 6084
Ultrasound appointments – 020 8539 5522 extension 5732
Community Midwifery Service (24 hour service) – 020 8558 0234
Magnolia Ward (Day Assessment Unit and Forest Suite) – 020 8539 5522 extension 5395 or 5055
Maple Ward (Antenatal ward) - 020 8539 5522 extension 5067
Mulberry ward (Postnatal ward) – 020 8539 5522 extension 5489
Delivery Suite - 020 8539 5522 extension 5052
Lilac Birth Centre – 020 8539 5522 extension 5395 or 5055
Where to find us
The Maternity building is in the Purple Zone. Nearest access is the James Lane entrance to the hospital and the nearest car park is car park 3.
There are also drop-off spaces outside the Maternity Unit where drivers can pull up to let passengers out before finding a parking space.
For more information on how to find these locations or how to get the hospital please look under our How to find us section'.
Antenatal Clinic
Located on the ground floor of the Maternity building in the Purple Zone
Delivery Suite
Located on the ground floor of the Maternity building in the Purple Zone
Magnolia Ward (including Day Assessment Unit and Amenity Rooms)
Located on the first floor of the Maternity building in the Purple Zone
Lilac Birth Centre
Located on the first floor of the Maternity building in the Purple Zone
Community Midwifery Service
Located on the first floor of the Maternity building in the Purple Zone
Mulberry Ward
Located on the second floor of the Maternity building in the Purple Zone
Maple Ward
Located on the second floor of the Maternity building in the Purple Zone
Tour of the Maternity Unit:
Parents-to-be who plan to or are considering giving birth at Whipps Cross Hospital are welcome to join our weekly tours around the Maternity Unit. These are held every Tuesday, starting at 6pm.
To join a tour, please book your place in advance by calling the Antenatal clinic on 020 8539 5522 extension 5044. If you are already booked to give birth at Whipps Cross or are receiving antenatal care from our community midwifery team, your midwife will also be happy to help.
Please note: We allow a maximum of 10 couples (or mums-to-be and birthing partners) on each tour. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.Opening Times:
The Maternity unit provides a 24 hour service. There is a security desk at the entrance to the Maternity unit and all visitors should report to security upon arrival
Antenatal Clinic: Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm
Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm
Day Assessment Unit Monday to Friday – 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday – only by prior appointment
Mulberry Ward: For husbands and partners – 8am to 8pm every day
For relatives and friends – 2.30pm to 8pm every day
Please note visiting on Mulberry ward is restricted to two adult visitors (including the partner) per patient. Only the patient’s children are allowed to visit
How to get treatment
Most women are usually referred to the service by their GP. For women that do not have a GP, please contact the community midwives on: 020 8558 0234 (24hrs) who can arrange to do your booking.
It is recommended that women have contact with the GP or midwife as early as possible in the pregnancy in order that important tests are not missed.
Information and help for mum-to-be and their families
Information leaflets
You will find a range of information leaflets about maternity services in our Patient Information page. These include information about our Lilac Birthing Centre and about breastfeeding support in Waltham Forest.
Whipps Cross supporting Aching Arms
Aching Arms is a baby loss charity run by a group of bereaved mothers who have experienced the pain and emptiness of leaving hospital without their much wanted baby.
Our aim is to raise awareness of the impact of
pregnancy and baby loss and bring some comfort to bereaved parents and their
families after the loss of a baby.
We provide Aching Arms Bears to
hospitals for midwives to give to newly bereaved mothers.
Click here to view the Aching Arms website for more information.
Our services
Whipps Cross Hospital, Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, London E11 1NR
020 8539 5522 • email us
