Maternity

The Local Maternity and Neonatal System at NHS North East London works with all the maternity units in our region to improve maternity services for all pregnant people and their families.   

We want to make sure that all pregnant people experience the best possible care during their pregnancy, and their babies have the best possible start in life.

There are five maternity services run by three trust across North East London:

The Royal London Hospital is the Regional Surgical Center and has two midwifery led birth centres and a Neonatal Unit level 3:

  • Lotus Birth Centre – alongside
  • Barkantine Birth Centre – stand alone
  • Neonatal Unit Level 3 – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU – this is the level of care for babies with the highest need for support. Often these babies will have been born before 28 weeks’ gestation, or be very unwell after birth.

Newham University Hospital has two midwifery led birth centres and a Neonatal Unit level 2:

  • Newham Hospital Birth Centre – alongside
  • Barking Community Birth Centre – stand alone
  • Neonatal Unit Level 2 – Local Neonatal Unit or LNU – this is for babies who need a higher level of medical and nursing support. Often, this will be for babies born between 28 and 32 weeks’ gestation

Whipps Cross Hospital has one midwifery led birth centre and Neonatal Unit level 1:

  • Lilac Birth Centre – alongside
  • Neonatal Unit Level 1 – Special Care Baby Unit or SCBU – this is for babies who do not need intensive care. Often, this will be for babies born after 32 weeks’ gestation.

Alongside midwifery led birth centres are located within the hospital.

Stand alone midwifery led birth centres are located independently, away from the hospital.

Homerton University Hospital has one midwifery led birth centre and a Neonatal Unit level 3:

  • Homerton Birth Centre – alongside
  • Neonatal Unit Level 3 – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU – this is the level of care for babies with the highest need for support. Often these babies will have been born before 28 weeks’ gestation, or be very unwell after birth.

Alongside midwifery led birth centres are located within the hospital.

Queen’s Hospital has one midwifery led birth centre and a Neonatal Unit level 2:

  • Queen’s Birth Centre – alongside
  • Neonatal Unit – Level 2 – Local Neonatal Unit or LNU – this is for babies who need a higher level of medical and nursing support. Often, this will be for babies born between 28 and 32 weeks’ gestation

King George Hospital offers pre-booked antenatal, postnatal and scan appointments 

 Alongside midwifery led birth centres are located within the hospital.

Useful links

UPDATED: 06/01/2023