Women and families using maternity services at Torbay Hospital can now benefit from a newly refurbished birthing suite designed to provide greater choice, improved accessibility and a calm, welcoming environment during labour and birth.

The Cove, a newly transformed space within the hospital's maternity unit, includes a new birthing pool, a fully refurbished birthing room and for the first time, a dedicated accessible wet room. The investment will help ensure more women can access water-based options during labour and birth while supporting a positive and personalised birth experience.

The project forms part of ongoing improvements to maternity services at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, reflecting a commitment to providing safe, compassionate and inclusive care that meets the diverse needs of local communities.

The addition of the accessible wet room is a significant enhancement, helping to improve access for women with disabilities and ensuring maternity facilities are designed with a wider range of needs in mind.

The name The Cove was chosen following engagement with women, families and the local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP). Inspired by the area's coastline, the name reflects the calm and welcoming atmosphere the team wanted to create for women and their families at an important moment in their lives.

Nicola McMinn, Chief Nurse, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Every woman deserves to feel supported, respected and comfortable during labour and birth.

“The environment in which people give birth can make a real difference to their experience, so we're delighted to open The Cove and offer women and families an improved space designed around their needs."

"This investment is about more than refurbishing a room. It's about creating an environment that supports choice, promotes wellbeing and helps us provide care that meets the different needs of women and families across our communities."

"We're particularly pleased to have introduced an accessible wet room alongside the new birthing pool, helping ensure more women can benefit from the options available during labour and birth.

“The project reflects our commitment to continually improving maternity services and the experience of every woman and family who comes into our care."

The Cove project has been delivered while maternity teams continued to provide care for women and families across Torbay and South Devon and complements recent investment and improvement in maternity triage facilities at Torbay Hospital.

The new birthing pool has already welcomed its first babies into the world, with women and families now having the choice to use the new facilities as part of their birth experience.

The Cove project reflects feedback from women and families about the importance of choice, comfort and accessibility during labour and birth, and the Trust's continued commitment to improving maternity services in response to the needs of local communities.

Formed in 2015, they were one of the first NHS Trusts in England to have integrated our acute and community health services with adult social care.

As an integrated care organisation, they work with partners to deliver safe, high-quality health and adult social care services for the people of Torbay and South Devon.

They serve approximately 292,000 residents and an additional 100,000 visitors during the summer holiday period.