Having your baby at Whipps Cross Hospital

Mother holding new born baby

Choosing our hospital

We recently underwent a £9 million refurbishment of some of our maternity and neonatal services, including a new research centre dedicated to Women’s Health.

If you choose to have your baby with us, we have an expert team of midwives and doctors who will work with you to plan a safe and comfortable pregnancy and delivery.

Our services are safe, you will be treated with respect, inclusivity and dignity. You and your family will be supported in every way possible if you choose to have your baby with us.

Following a 2019 and 2022 inspection by our healthcare regulator, our services were rated 'Good'.

RLH maternity tour text

Welcome to our maternity department

Take a tour of the rooms and equipment

 

Visit our hospital virtually

Contact us, visiting times and parking

Contact numbers for Whipps Cross Hospital maternity team
Maternity appointments and scans 0208 535 6861
Helpline for pregnancy queries and after having your baby (10am-6pm, 7 days a week) 020 8535 6950
Out of hours helpline 0208 535 5522 Ext. 6769

Visiting hours
Mulberry Ward: 08.00-20.00, only 1 birthing partner permitted. From 14:00-22:00, 1 additional birthing partner is permitted. 
Labour and Delivery Ward: 24 hours, 2 birthing partners permitted
Lilac Birth Centre: 24 hours, 2 birthing partners permitted
Neonatal Unit: 24 hours

Patient engagement
We have a Patient Experience Team and a Community Engagement Officer to support us in hearing from the women and families we provide care to. We collate feedback from women and their families at each contact through the Friends and Family Test (FFT).The results are shared on a National database. We work very closely with our Maternity Voices Partnership to include the community in co-producing their care.

Parking
Subsidised parking permits can be given for your stay, please purchase a ticket from the machine for £2.50 for each day and our receptionist can organise a permit which you will need to display on your dashboard.  

Eating and drinking in or near the hospital
There are vending machines for snacks and drinks on the ground floor at reception and on the first floor at the lobby in front of the lift. We have a M&S next to the maternity building that is open 7 days a week (7:00am-8:30pm Monday to Friday and 8:00am-7:30pm Saturdays and Sundays) and a hospital canteen and coffee shop at Junction 4 of the main hospital.

Access to your hospital records
Request access to your hospital records.

Early Gynaecology Unit & Maternity Triage (24 hours daily)

Early Gynaecology Unit

The Emergency Gynaecology Unit (EGU) provides emergency care for women with problems in early pregnancy (up to 17 weeks of pregnancy) and emergency care for acute gynaecological problems.

We see women with:

  • pain or bleeding in early pregnancy
  • suspected ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside of the womb)
  • severe pelvic pain admitted to hospital who are not pregnant

The appointments are allocated from the Emergency Department, GPs or other healthcare providers. You will be given an appointment either on the day or within a few days.

You can self-refer if you've had:

  • two previous miscarriages
  • a previous ectopic pregnancy
  • a previous molar pregnancy

What to expect when you attend EGU 

A doctor or nurse will assess you by taking your medical history and you will also have an internal ultrasound scan. The scan findings will be explained, whether you need to have any more tests, and your treatment options. If you need to discuss these further with a doctor you may need to wait to be seen as we give priority to those who are seriously unwell.

Contact Details
Direct telephone line: 020 8535 6499
Switchboard: 020 8539 5522 Ext 6575
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 7:00pm
Weekends and bank holidays: 9:00am to 12:00pm

If you are pregnant and are having pain or heavy bleeding outside of these hours, please go to the Emergency Department.

Further information and support:

Some of the consultants that you will meet in EGU are Ora Jesner, Anupama Shahid, Nandita Deo, Ismail Wong, Mehrnoosh Aref-Adib, Anwen Gorry.

Maternity Triage

This is an assessment area staffed by senior midwives for pregnant women who are 18 weeks pregnant and above (if under 18 weeks, please attend our A&E department for assessment) and up to 6 weeks following the birth of your baby.

When to contact Maternity Triage:-

  • Reduced fetal movements
  • If you think you are in labour
  • Your waters breaking
  • Vaginal bleeding

If you have any other concerns such as itching, headaches and visual disturbances, postnatal concerns, please call us for advice on 0208 539 5522 extension 6769. 

Parent education workshops

We offer a host of online and in-person antenatal classes and workshops. Events are run by our expert teams and range from support for breastfeeding, to open days and our popular birth and beyond course for expectant mothers and partners.

Check dates and book your place

Please read all the details in the event descriptions, choose your preferred option and book only ONE ticket for ONE course, even if joining in with your partner.

Our courses are very popular so if you can no longer attend a session please cancel your ticket to ensure a space is available for all families. New dates are added regularly for future courses.   

For more information you can contact the team at wxparenteducation.bartshealth@nhs.net

  • WX maternity

    We visited Whipps Cross hospital as we had not felt our baby move in the womb for a few hours, and we needed an emergency c section. This was nerve wracking but all the staff were sensitve and reassuring. Baby and mum are both now doing well and a large part of this is due to the support we got from Whipps Cross in the first days of her life. 

    Duncan, Kathrin and Baby Iris, Whipps Cross Hospital

  • I was very pleased with my experience in maternity unit and I couldn't have asked more. The midwives and doctor, especially in labour ward were absolutely amazing and supportive. They gave me lot of attention, support and reassurance through my labour despite how busy they were. Just cannot describe in words how truly fantastic they are.. I've been given lots of advice, information and help during my stay there. 

    Inesa, Whipps Cross Hospital