New birthing suite opens at Torbay Hospital
A refurbished maternity suite featuring a new birthing pool and accessible wet room has opened at Torbay Hospital, offering women and families more choice during labour and birth.
A new birthing suite has opened at Torbay Hospital as part of ongoing improvements to maternity services across South Devon.
Named The Cove, the refurbished space includes a new birthing pool, a modernised birthing room and, for the first time, a dedicated accessible wet room designed to support women with disabilities.
The investment aims to give women and families greater choice during labour and birth while creating a calmer and more welcoming environment.
The suite's name was chosen following consultation with women, families and the local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP). Inspired by the South Devon coastline, The Cove was selected to reflect the peaceful atmosphere staff wanted to create.
Nicola McMinn, Chief Nurse at 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."
She added: "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 was completed while maternity teams continued caring for women and families and follows recent investment in maternity triage facilities at the hospital.
The Trust said the new birthing pool has already welcomed its first babies into the world, with women now able to choose the new facilities as part of their birth experience.
The refurbishment was informed by feedback from women and families, with the Trust saying it reflects the importance of choice, comfort and accessibility during labour and birth.