Christmas comes early for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

20 December 2017

The Reuben Foundation has donated a transformational gift to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and its charity CW+ to establish new, state-of-the-art maternity and neonatal services. This generous gift will create ‘The Reuben Foundation Maternity Centre’ at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The first phase of the centre will open in Autumn 2018 and will transform the existing labour and maternity wards into a world-class environment for women and their families.

The gift will also support the hospital’s plans to expand and redevelop its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This new facility will open in 2019 with capacity to treat 150 more babies every year in a state-of-the-art environment for families and babies born from 23 weeks. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital delivers more than 5,500 babies every year and together with its sister hospital West Middlesex University Hospital, is the second biggest maternity service in the UK.

Lesley Watts, CEO of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, says: “We are extremely grateful to the Reuben Foundation for this most generous gift. We are delivering more babies each year at our hospitals and, although our staff provide exceptional care, our current facilities urgently need improving. This wonderful donation will give us the opportunity to transform these areas into a first-class maternity centre for our mothers, babies and their loved ones.”

Chris Chaney, CEO of hospital charity CW+, added: “We know from families and our own research that the environment in which care is delivered has a clear impact on patient experience and outcomes. This significant gift from the Reuben Foundation will enable these areas to be completely refurbished, providing a calm, relaxing and supportive environment for women in labour, new mothers and their families.” Alex and Sarah McSporran became parents to Blaire Rose on 16 December 2017.

Proud new parents Alex and Sarah (pictured above) said: “We were fortunate to experience the exceptional care in both the birthing centre and maternity ward. We can’t express how grateful we are for the services provided—highly professional and importantly delivered with a human touch. The refurbishment of the maternity ward will no doubt further enhance the experience of other families by offering mums a home-like setting in a first-class medical environment. Thanks again to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital staff—we couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present!”

The Reuben Foundation was formed in 2002 and is committed to the betterment of society in the UK and around the globe through focused charitable giving in the areas of education, health and the community. Lisa Reuben, Trustee of the Reuben Foundation said: “We are delighted to be supporting Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. They have an outstanding reputation as a maternity hospital and being able to help so many families at such an important time in their lives is something we are excited to be involved in.”