Tameside Hospital has officially unveiled its brand-new maternity theatre, a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance care for mothers and babies across the Tameside and Glossop area.
The official opening ceremony, held on Wednesday 23 July, marked the culmination of over 18 months of planning and construction. The £5.5 million development promises to significantly improve the experience and safety of both elective and emergency caesarean births.
The new theatre, located within the hospital’s existing maternity unit, means mothers no longer need to be transferred down long corridors to the main operating theatres for planned caesarean sections. The facility is expected to carry out between eight and ten elective procedures every week, with the capacity to handle emergencies in the same building - providing faster access to care and greater peace of mind for expectant parents.
Speaking at the event, Karen James OBE, Chief Executive of Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said the new theatre was a vital step forward for local maternity care.
“For our residents and mothers-to-be, it’s a fantastic facility. Previously, planned caesarean sections required a walk across to our main theatres, which was far from ideal. Now, everything is housed within the maternity unit - it’s far better, more convenient, and safer. It means those important procedures can go ahead without disruption, in a calm and familiar environment.”
The theatre was officially opened by Hollyoaks actress Kirsty-Leigh Porter, a long-standing supporter of the hospital’s maternity unit. Kirsty has a deeply personal connection to Tameside Hospital, where she received care during both heartbreaking and joyful moments. In 2019, she and her family fundraised in memory of her daughter Penny-Leigh, helping to improve the hospital’s Harebell Suite for bereaved parents. A year later, she returned to the hospital to give birth to her daughter Nala Rai.
Also in attendance was Councillor Tafheen Sharif, former Mayor of Tameside and Tameside Council’s current health and equalities lead. Cllr Sharif, who gave birth to three of her own children at Tameside Hospital, praised the new development as a vital investment in local women's health.
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Staff, guests and supporters were invited to tour the new facilities virtually through an interactive online 3D walkthrough. Attendees also heard from key figures behind the project, including Alison Uku, Consultant and Clinical Director for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Adam Roberts, the hospital’s Head of Capital.
Dr Uku reflected on the significance of the milestone: “It’s such a privilege to be here for the opening of this new maternity theatre. We hope to provide safer, surgical births for our patients, something that has been a long time coming. Thanks to the commitment of our leadership, neonatal, anaesthetic and medical teams, we’ve delivered a facility that’s better than we expected - and we did it on time and within budget.”
Adam Roberts echoed the sentiment, adding: “This has been a challenging but hugely rewarding project. I want to thank our construction partners, ModuleCo, and the entire hospital team for bringing it to life. It’s something the whole community can be proud of.”
The new maternity theatre is now fully operational, offering cutting-edge equipment, improved comfort for patients, and a more integrated maternity experience.
With technology evolving rapidly and demand for services rising, the facility represents a significant leap forward in ensuring safe, high-quality births for families across Tameside and Glossop.
You can take a look at the interactive map at: Tameside & Glossop - Maternity Theatre
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