In response to valuable feedback from patients and their families, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has introduced an extension of visiting hours at our maternity units at University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital.
The extended visiting hours now allow visits from 9am to 10pm daily for one birthing partner and siblings of the baby, to provide families with greater flexibility and support during this important time.
Gergana Nikolova, Director of Midwifery at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: “We recognise the importance of providing the best possible birthing experience and postnatal journey for all women, birthing people and their loved ones.
“By extending visiting hours, we hope to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment that meets the emotional and practical needs of our women, birthing people and their families. While we strive to accommodate the needs of all our families, due to our specific infrastructure, we cannot provide overnight stays at this present time.”
These extended hours apply specifically to Ward 10 at University Hospital of North Durham and Ward 61 at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
For other visitors to these maternity wards the hours for visiting are 2pm to 4pm and 6pm until 8pm with a maximum 3 visitors per bed who are over the age of 16 unless they are a sibling of the baby.
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust remains committed to continually improving services and facilities to ensure the safety, comfort, and wellbeing of every individual in our care.
The Trust’s maternity service appreciates the feedback it has received and will continue to listen and adapt to the needs of its patients and their families.
