Current visiting times

We know how important it is for patients and families to be able to see visitors. Please help us keep our patients and staff as safe as possible by checking the guidance below before you visiting. 

Read more on visiting times...


Messages for loved ones and keeping in touch

We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication.  Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Voluntary Services team can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.

Read more information about messages for loved ones…

Current visiting times

After suspending visiting earlier in the year, we are now able to offer limited visiting to some wards at the discretion of the nurse in-charge.”

Read more on visiting times...


Messages for loved ones and keeping in touch

We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication.  Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.

Read more information about messages for loved ones…

Our Strategy – Working Together, Improving Together

Our strategy sets out our vision, values, strategic aims and most importantly, how we will deliver against these ambitions for our patients, communities, and people in the future.

It is not just a document, it is for and about everyone at PHU, building on what we have achieved with a renewed focus on continuous improvement and the need to continue to work together and improve together to achieve our goals. 

A full copy of the strategy can be downloaded here.

For more information, please visit our strategy webpage.

There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved with the Trust, from volunteering to attending our public meetings, our Annual General Meeting or our hospital open day which is held every year.

News

International Day of the Midwife blog: Gemma New

Date: 05 May 2022

midwife gemma new

It’s international Day of the Midwife!

To celebrate, we will be sharing accounts from various midwives. First up, read this blog from Gemma New.

 

What is your role within maternity services at PHU?

Hello, my name is Gemma. I am the matron for Maternity Inpatient Services and the maternity practice education lead at PHU.

My career started in adult nursing in 2008, but I always knew I wanted to be a midwife.

I was very lucky to have incredibly supportive mentors when studying at the University of Brighton, where I achieved my top up midwifery degree. I enjoyed every moment of my training, experiencing many beautiful home births. One home birth in particular will always remain in my mind, it was above a pub on a busy Saturday night!

On completion of my midwifery training, I joined the maternity team at St Richards Hospital in Chichester. Three-months into my post, I experienced the joy of having my own child as I found out I was pregnant and left to have my son.

On my return, I completed the preceptorship course and achieved my Band 6 midwifery post where I worked alongside a fantastic multi-professional team, providing care to pregnant people with both high risk and low risk pregnancies, antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care.

This experience led me to take on my first midwifery role at PHU as a community midwife. I was so excited to be joining the Trust and be a part of such as incredible experience, supporting pregnant people with continuity throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond.

From there, I took on a variety of roles within maternity supporting other midwives through their education and training and helped to develop different educational projects. I was also able to work alongside my midwifery colleagues across the local system to achieve the Better Births agenda, emphasising the importance of individualised, personalised care to pregnant people and their families.

It was January 2020 when I was successfully appointed as matron, a role that I am proud of.

 

What inspired you to be a midwife?

I was inspired from a young age to be a midwife, supporting women and birthing people through their journey of pregnancy into parenthood.

 

What do you like about being a midwife?

As a midwife I am able to fulfil my passion in providing compassionate, safe care, working in partnership with women, families and maternity staff to continually improve patient experience.

 

What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a midwife?

I would encourage anyone thinking of becoming a midwife to follow their passion, there are many different options to enter the midwifery profession to all groups of people with flexible ways of working.

 

Why are you #ProudToBePHU?

I am fortunate enough to work alongside an incredible, hardworking and dedicated multi-professional team which is why I am #ProudToBePHU.

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