8 February 2012

As a result of the ongoing relocation of services into the new Royal London Hospital, a number of short-term temporary service closures will be needed on the days the moves take place. Please note the following two closures:

Paediatric Phlebotomy Services – closed at 1pm on Thursday 9 February 2012

The Paediatric Phlebotomy Service on the 1st Floor, Fielden House at The Royal London Hospital will close at 1pm on Thursday 9 February 2012.

The service will re-open at 9am on Monday 13 February 2012 in Clinic 4, Paediatric Outpatients’ Services, 7th Floor, North Tower, in the new Royal London Hospital.

There will be no paediatric phlebotomy services available in the afternoon of Thursday 9 February and all day on Friday 10 February during the move.

The opening times for the Paediatric Phlebotomy Service (now and in its new location) are Monday-Friday, 9am-4.30pm.

 The service will continue to be offered, as it is currently, on a drop-in basis (no booking necessary).

 If you have any queries about the temporary closure, please contact Cynthia Grant, Phlebotomy Manager, on tel 020 7943 1397.

Labour Ward – closed from 6am on Thursday 23 February to 6am on Friday 24 February 2012

The Royal London Hospital labour ward (also known as Marie Celeste) will close at 6am on Thursday 23 February 2012 and re-open at 6am on Friday 24 February in our Delivery Suite in the new hospital building on the 6th floor. There will be no operational labour ward at The Royal London Hospital during this 24-hour period.

While our labour ward is closed, the maternity unit at Newham University Hospital will accept all our women in labour.

During the closure period, expectant mothers who: 

• think they are in labour
• have heavy bleeding

should call Newham University Hospital on 020 7363 8765 for the midwife to organise their admission. Directions to Newham University Hospital can be found on the Newham University Hospital NHS Trust website at: http://www.newhamuniversityhospital.nhs.uk/main.cfm?type=HOWTOGET#NewhamGeneralHospital

All women who would be 36 weeks and over in the week beginning Monday 20 February and registered to have their baby with Barts and The London Maternity Service have been contacted about the closure period. Information is also being handed out at relevant clinics, MFAU, Triage and Children’s Centres. A flyer is available on the Trust website, with full details of all moves taking place as part of the maternity unit relocation into the Women’s Centre in the new building from Monday 20 February 2012.

If you have any concerns or queries about the temporary labour ward closure, please contact Carol Murray, Senior Midwife, by email to Carol.Murray@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk