www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, May 27, 2010 · 20 Health Oakville Beaver Maternal Child Unit upgrades a labour of love Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) celebrated the upgrade of its Maternal Child Unit -- despite the fact that a new hospital is on the horizon. With the birthing of babies a booming business at OTMH, the upgrade just couldn't wait. While the Province announced in December 2008 the green light to go ahead with the renovation, the investment in the current facility was kept to a minimum given that the hospital will ultimately be moving to Third Line at Dundas Street, according to a hospital news release. Still, it will be a better space for new moms and their babies, according to the release. With the new Oakville Hospital on the books, the project's scope was modified in order to minimize the money spent at the current site. While the project will optimize the family, birthing and the special care nursery areas, the planned number of delivery rooms has been decreased and the ambulatory area expansion (which includes the prenatal clinic, private consultation rooms and the breastfeeding clinic) has been significantly scaled back and will be accommodated in existing areas of the unit said the release. Special Care Nursery OTMH provides Level 2 neonatal care in its Special Care Nursery (SCN) for premature babies born at OTMH from 32 weeks on. The nursery also accepts babies back from tertiary centres in Hamilton and Toronto, to care for them in their home community, closer to their families. The acuity of babies cared for in the SCN at OTMH has significantly changed over time with the advent of in vitro fertilization, more multiple births and longer stays for these young patients, according to the hospital. The cornerstone of the redevelopment project is the SCN. The SCN's new design will allow the staff to isolate, cohort or segregate babies and enable OTMH to better fulfill its role regionally by accepting more babies back from tertiary centres. Each infant's care area will double in size, which will facilitate full implementation of the Family Centred Care Model so patients and their families can be better accommodated. Other updates included the patient rooms and waiting areas in the Maternal Child/Paediatric Unit and the addition of a Labour & Delivery Room in the Birthing Suite. Patient rooms have been rejuvenated and have received very positive feedback from patients, families and staff, said the news release. While the current redevelopment will better enable implementation of the Family Centered Care guidelines as well as infection control and privacy/confidentiality guidelines, space limitations do remain and will remain until the move to the new Oakville Hospital. The redevelopment will better enable the facilitation of the Family Centred Care Model so patients and their families can be better accommodated, thereby increasing patient satisfaction. The updated, contemporary design will also be a more conducive work environment and will aid efforts in retaining and recruiting new physicians and healthcare professionals. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER RE-BIRTH: Co-Chair of the Critical Support Campaign Ian Cockwell and Co-Chair of the Critical Support Campaign & Halton Healthcare Services Board Chair Mags Shorey stand in a newly-refurbished maternity room. Psychological Assessment, Counseling and Treatment in a Confiden al, Posi ve, Suppor ve Environment mental wellness al we Dr. Robert Mathieson, C.Psych., Registered Psychologist 1464 Cornwall Road, Suite 2, Oakville Tel : 905-339-1530