Expectant mothers, pregnant people and bereaved families at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) will benefit from significantly improved facilities when a new Maternity Triage Unit and Bereavement Suite open in the spring of 2026.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is creating the unit and suite to provide dedicated spaces with improved privacy, comfort and faster assessment for expectant mothers, pregnant people and bereaved families.
The two complementary developments will result in purpose-built spaces, following extensive consultation with service users, UHMBT colleagues and the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership. Both projects are being project managed in-house by the Trust’s Capital Services Team.
The new Bereavement Suite will offer a peaceful, private sanctuary for families experiencing pregnancy loss. Located just inside the Delivery Suite entrance at the RLI, the spacious room will feature an en-suite shower room and direct access to a private garden area, providing families with a tranquil outdoor space during their most difficult moments.
Helena Brown, Matron for Maternity Inpatient Services at the RLI, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we can create this space for families going through what is probably the worst thing they will ever experience.
“The new suite will provide the privacy and calm environment people need, without feeling overly clinical, while still having access to all the care and support our team can provide. It will offer families a safer and improved experience.
“With a structured triage system and dedicated space, we will be able to identify and prioritise women who need urgent care quickly and efficiently.”
The previous bereavement room needed to be updated, so the difficult decision to close it temporarily was taken. This has enabled the team to create a much more appropriate and peaceful environment.
Service users have been heavily involved in every aspect of the design, from choosing calming paint colours and furniture to selecting special touches like ceiling murals, adjustable lighting and books for all the family, including siblings.
The suite will accommodate partners and family members with a pull-down bed for overnight stays. ‘Cold cots’ previously donated by bereaved families will continue to be available.
The Maternity Team is currently consulting about a name for the new Bereavement Suite.
Meanwhile, the new Maternity Triage Unit will provide faster, more structured assessment for women and pregnant people with urgent pregnancy concerns. Based on the Birmingham Symptom Specific Obstetric Triage System, the dedicated facility will ensure expectant mothers with conditions like high blood pressure, bleeding, abdominal pain or reduced foetal movements are triaged and assessed within the gold standard of 15 minutes.
Fiona Ducksbury, Delivery Suite Ward Manager at the RLI, said: “It will be really nice to have a dedicated area for triage. Having our own waiting room means women who are worried about their baby won’t have to sit on corridors or in antenatal clinics alongside others having routine scans. As two of the birth rooms on Delivery Suite have been used for triage for the duration of the works. It will be great to get them back to support the running of the delivery suite.”
The triage unit, located just steps from the delivery suite, will be staffed by two midwives 24/7 and will feature a private waiting room and assessment beds in a calm, self-contained environment.
Helena added: “The NHS moves quickly and we’re seeing more women with complex health conditions who years ago might not have been able to get pregnant. Being able to give colleagues dedicated, fresh spaces with up-to-date equipment will make their jobs easier and boost morale.
“Getting two delivery rooms back by moving triage out of the Delivery Suite has huge operational benefits and having a structured triage system means we can prioritise care more effectively. It will be a better experience for everyone.”
Susan Foyle, Director of Midwifery, UHMBT, said: “We are deeply committed to improving the experience of care for every family that comes through our Maternity Services. The new unit and suite are being built to provide compassionate, timely and dignified care in environments that truly reflect the needs of the people we serve.
“The Maternity Triage Unit will allow us to respond more quickly and effectively to urgent pregnancy concerns, helping women and pregnant 
people to feel safe and supported at a critical time. Meanwhile, the suite will offer a sanctuary for families during their most difficult moments. These spaces will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
The two projects are provisionally planned to open in the spring of 2026. Funding has been secured through UHMBT’s capital funds.