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About us
The Maternity Day Assessment Unit is where we look after women who are experiencing complications with their pregnancy, but who don’t need to stay in hospital.
We offer rapid assessment and monitoring for women with conditions such as hypertension, bleeding, reduced movements, anaemia, or ruptured membranes.
We also look after women who have experienced previous pregnancy loss. Patients are referred to us through triage, their midwife or GP, or another healthcare professional.
One partner is allowed with you in DAU, but unfortunately sometimes may have to wait outside until you are in a bed space if the waiting room is particularly busy. Due to the nature of the DAU, you could be waiting a while to see a doctor. Whilst there is tea and coffee available, and fruit and biscuits, we would encourage you to bring more substantial food with you if attending around meal times (although we are unable to heat anything for you).
Directions to the Maternity Day Assessment Unit
Maternity Day Assessment is in the Princess Alexandra Wing at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske in Truro. When you arrive at the hospital, follow the signs to the Princess Alexandra Wing. The Maternity Day Assessment Unit is on the ground floor.
Please see the ‘Our hospitals’ page on the main hospital website for directions, facilities, maps, and accessibility information for each of our three hospital sites: Royal Cornwall Hospital, West Cornwall Hospital, and St Michael’s Hospital.
Visiting the Maternity Day Assessment Unit
One of the hardest decisions we have had to make during the pandemic has been the restrictions needed on hospital visiting, and accompanying pregnant women to appointments. We have taken steps to reduce the number of people coming into our hospitals and the risk of spreading the coronavirus. We realise this is really hard for partners and families but we must do everything we can to keep babies, parents and our staff safe.
We have been continually reviewing visiting throughout the pandemic and the latest arrangements for our maternity and neonatal services are as follows:
You must not visit if you have any of these symptoms
COVID-19 testing for maternity visiting and appointments
From the beginning of pregnancy, all partners or support person must commence twice weekly COVID-19 testing to enable approved visiting and attendance at appointments
Pregnant women and people can have one support partner with them at:
- early pregnancy unit appointments
- all maternity scan appointments including growth scans
- all antenatal clinic appointments (Community and hospital)
- all Community Postnatal appointments
- day assessment visits
- throughout labour in Delivery suite and birth centres
- Wheal Fortune (Transitional Care), subject to individual approval, between 2-5pm every day
- Wheal Rose, your midwife will discuss with you further on the day or please phone the night before if you have a planned admission booked.
There may be limitations in visiting which differ from day to day and to protect everyone a daily risk assessment will take place on Wheal Rose each day.
To ensure everyone can stay safe;
- all partners are asked to wear a mask at appointments and while moving around the building (unless exempt)
- we ask that partners have a COVID-19 lateral flow test prior to visiting on the wards. You can go to a local test site, collect tests from a pharmacy or test site, or order them online. You can find your nearest site on the NHS England website or by calling 119. Visitors must report their result here before coming to the hospital.
- we will open windows to allow for extra ventilation during visiting times, please ask a staff member for extra blankets for yourself or your baby if required.
- partners may be asked to wait outside especially in settings with limited waiting room.
- please follow the guidance given by staff on the day of your appointment. The guidance will differ slightly depending on where you are having your appointment.
Paediatrics
One parent at any time and both parents to be present in the event of a critically ill child.
Top tips when visiting
- visitors need to introduce themselves and advise who they are visiting.
- they will also be required to wash their hands and may need to wear appropriate PPE during the visit.
- feel free to help out at mealtimes
- do not disturb clinical staff during medicine rounds
- when asked to leave a bay or room, please respect our request
- when you leave the ward following your visit, you will need to remove any PPE, dispose of it properly, and wash your hands
Please see the Visiting and appointments page for further general information.
Related information
What patients can expect from us
Our pledge is to let our patients know what they are in hospital for, what is needed before we can send them home, a timeframe for their discharge and an opportunity for them to be involved in shared decision-making about their treatment and care.
Contacting the ward for updates on your loved one
The ward is a busy place and our priority is patient care; the best time to call is after 11 am, once the doctors have completed their rounds. Upon admission to our ward we will establish if our patients are able to make contact with loved ones.
We suggest that one person is nominated to call the ward for updates and to act as the patient’s single point of contact. Our patients with capacity and the ability to contact loved ones themselves, are best placed to provide an update. Those who would prefer relatives to be updated by staff will have this documented and we will endeavour to contact daily to provide an update.
Parking
Our patients may not always be able to be treated within the maternity unit. This means that they may be transferred to different wards during a single inpatient stay, and we will always endeavour to update the patient’s nominated contact of this.
Entertainment
Most wards have access to Wi-Fi on NHSWi-Fi, however there are some connectivity issues on Wheal Fortune.
Laptops and mobiles are allowed (if users are respectful of other patients – it’s a good idea to bring headphones and label devices clearly). We ask that you ensure any chargers that you may bring for devices are in a good working condition, so as not to cause a fire.
Patient Experience
We are passionate about patient experience and we want every one of our patients, and their relatives, to receive the best possible service when being treated at, or visiting, our hospitals. We take all feedback seriously and will take action where appropriate. Please see the Patient Experience section for further details.
Page last reviewed: 6 April 2023
