30 October 2026
Women and families using maternity services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) will benefit from improvements designed to enhance privacy, comfort and communication when attending maternity triage.
The changes at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford have been shaped by feedback from women and families gathered by the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP).
While the feedback highlighted many positive experiences, women and families identified opportunities to improve the environment and overall experience, including the need for:
- More comfortable waiting areas
- Greater privacy
- Shorter waiting times
In response, SaTH’s maternity services team has reconfigured the maternity triage area within the inpatient antenatal ward at PRH to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for women and their families.
Improvements include:
- A dedicated waiting room for women attending maternity triage
- New confidential spaces for clinical handovers and discussions
- A separate office for maternity triage staff
Maternity triage will remain located within the inpatient antenatal ward, and there are no changes to how women access the service.
Women who are more than 16 weeks pregnant can continue to attend maternity triage if they have concerns about their pregnancy. They are welcome to attend without calling beforehand, although the team encourages women to call first if they would like advice or are unsure whether they need to come in.
Martina Morris, Chief Nursing Officer for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Community and Hospital NHS Trust, said:
“We know coming to maternity triage can be an anxious time, so we’re pleased to be making improvements that will create a more welcoming, private and comfortable environment for women and their families, while also giving our staff better facilities to support the care they provide.
“We hope these changes will make a real difference to women’s experience, and we’d like to thank our MNVP for helping us gather the feedback that shaped these improvements.”
Maria Howe, Strategic MNVP Lead for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent, said:
“Families told us they want a maternity triage environment that feels welcoming, comfortable and private, especially when they may be feeling worried or unwell. It is encouraging to see the maternity team respond positively to what families told us, and this change reflects a shared commitment to improving care and experiences for women and their families.”
The maternity triage improvements form part of the Trust’s ongoing work to deliver excellent maternity and neonatal services. Recent improvements have included strengthening co-production with women and families through, investment in workforce development, and continued work to enhance the quality, safety and experience of maternity care.
For advice or support, women can contact their midwife, GP, NHS111. The maternity triage service can be contacted directly after 16 weeks of pregnancy, on 01952 565948