INGLESIDE BIRTHING UNIT ENTERS PHASE 2 OF ITS CROWD FUNDING CAMPAIGN

Updated 20/07/2017: Salford Birth Centre has launched phase 2 of its crowdfunder campaign and are asking for Salfordian's to help fund a new birthing pool facility at the new site. Previously generous Salford folks helped raise 1400 towards helping buy facilities for the new birth centre.

A crowdfunding page has been set up for anyone wanting to help support the service by donating as much or little as you can. http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/salford-birth-centre

A new 'Tribute' wall will be put into place and will carry the names of all those who donate £5 or more towards the funding. You can opt to either have your own name or that of a loved one recorded on the wall and all those who contributed in Phase 1 of the appeal will be automatically added.

Meanwhile construction work on the historic Ingleside building is taking place by Seddon Construction and it is hoped to be completed and opened for new births later this year.

The 200 year old, Council owned Ingleside ex residential care home in Claremont's Oakwood Park is to be refurbished at a cost of £3million to house a new mid-wife led birthing unit to replace the current one due to close at Salford Royal (Hope), which is to close its doors at the end of September.

This will mean that mothers who are deemed to be low risk will be able to continue to have the choice to give birth within the City borders. More complicated births will be referred to St Mary's however.

The new unit supported by NHS England will be managed by Bolton Foundation Trust which already operates a community mid-wife service within Salford and it is hoped that over 300 babies will be born at the new location each year.

Salford Council have pledged to provide £2million in funding for renovations and a further £1million is to be sought from local businesses and wealthy citizens who it is hoped will help support the service.

For many in Salford the closure of the cities only maternity unit was a devastating blow as it would have meant that other than the odd home birth, future babies would be born outside the city boundary in other areas of Greater Manchester.

Salford people have a strong sense of local identity and are intensely proud of both their heritage and their roots.

This latest move will be welcomed by local campaigners who have sought to keep the service alive.

It will also be welcomed by those seeking to preserve local heritage as the building had previously been earmarked to be sold off, this latest move will see it brought back into public use and much needed refurbishments made to its roof and structure.

Once refurbished it will feature a full range of birthing suites with pools, modern equipment and rooms on site.

Ingleside is the former family own of Glass manufacturer Major Pilkington of Pilkingtons Glass Fame, itwas left to the people of Salford in 1936 along with 2 other of his properties. The white fronted building is set within Oakwood Park in Claremont and was previously used as a residential care centre. 

It is hoped that the new unit will open its doors on October 1st and that babies will be born there soon afterwards.