Transfer to St Peter’s Maternity and Neonatal Unit: You may have been transferred to St Peter’s hospital whilst still pregnant (in-utero transfer) to ensure that your baby is born in the right place for their expected needs. Alternatively, your baby may have been transferred after baby has been born (ex-utero transfer) for specialist support.
Leaflet Details
| Title | Transfer to St Peter’s Maternity and Neonatal Unit |
| Department | O&G / NICU |
| Author(s) | Abigail Le Bas |
| Review Date | March 2024 |
| Next Review | January 2025 |
| Download | A5 Booklet PDF |
| Accessibility Options | Click on the Recite Me button to show our accessibility resources |
Patient Information
Transfer to St Peter’s Hospital
You may have been transferred to St Peter’s hospital whilst still pregnant (in-utero transfer) to ensure that your baby is born in the right place for their expected needs. Alternatively, your baby may have been transferred after baby has been born (ex-utero transfer) for specialist support.
Wherever possible, if they are being transferred after delivery and you are still an inpatient at your local hospital, then you will also be medically transferred and admitted to St Peter’s maternity unit as well, to ensure you are both in the same hospital.
Please be reassured that once you and your baby no longer require specialist medical, surgical, or nursing care, you will be transferred back to a hospital closer to home (this then helps other babies to access specialist care). This is usually your local hospital, however occasionally it may be an alternative hospital (but still close to home), if your local hospital is unable to accommodate your baby due to cot availability or yours or baby’s needs.
We appreciate that St Peter’s hospital may be very far from your home and local hospital. This leaflet covers information that you and your family might find useful.
The Neonatal Unit information padlet can also be accessed here:
https://padlet.com/asptrficareteam/st-peter-s-nicu-family-padlet-ouwg45xtkwqqxi2e
Travelling to St Peter’s Hospital
- Car: St Peter’s Hospital is located between Woking and Chertsey close to junction 11 of the M25. The postcode for the hospital is KT16 0PZ.
- Bus: There are regular bus services operating to St Peter’s Hospital from Woking, Staines, and other surrounding areas. 557 and 446 bus routes come from Woking station to the hospital.
- Train: St Peter's hospital is a 20-minute walk from Chertsey train station. There is a taxi service by the station, and it is on the main 557 and 446 bus route (going towards Woking). Alternatively, Woking station is 25 minutes from Waterloo. St Peter's is a 4 mile walk from the station but there are regular buses and taxi companies available by the exit.
Car Parking
On site car parking is available but it gets busy at certain times of the day. Payment should be made at a nearby machine where you park. If your baby is likely to be in hospital for a long time, parking tickets can be extended. The Unit does subsidise parking for all parents with babies on the neonatal unit, please ask the nurse about current arrangements. Note that penalty charges may be enforced by the car parks management company. If you are a blue badge holder, please follow the instructions on the terminal to obtain your parking free of charge.
Other Rooms
If you are not an inpatient, but your baby is in the neonatal unit, we do have a small number of rooms that may be available for you to stay overnight. Please ask the nurse caring for your baby if this is of interest. If they are not available, then we can also provide information of other accommodations nearby.
Hospital Map
The Maternity and Neonatal units are based in Abbey Wing, which is shown in the red circle above.
Personal Supplies
We appreciate you may have been transferred at short notice. Whilst we cannot guarantee it, if you need a phone charger then please ask if we have one to borrow. There is also a phone charging station on the neonatal unit. We can also supply toiletries and underwear if required.
Food and Shopping
Whilst you are an inpatient you are provided with your meals in hospital. However, the below options are also available to you and your visitors.
- Retreat Café - Situated in the Main Entrance of the hospital
Mon to Sun: 7.30am - 4pm
- Abbey Wing Costa - Situated in Abbey Wing
Mon to Fri: 8am to 5pm, Sat and Sun: 8.30am to 3.30pm
- WHSmith Shop - Situated in the Main Entrance of the hospital
Mon to Fri: 8am to 7pm, Sat to Sun: 10am to 2pm
Sat to Sun: 2.20pm to 4pm
Vending machines are located in:
- Level 2 main entrance of the hospital: Costa coffee and cold drinks
- Level 3 Duchess of Kent opposite the lifts in the main hospital: Snacks, cold drinks & hot and cold food (microwave facility)
- Abbey Wing ground floor: Coffee, snacks, and cold drinks
- Accident and Emergency, situated in the main hospital: Café Couture coffee, cold drinks, and food
- Rowley Bristow in the main hospital: Cold drinks and snacks
Many people also choose to order their own food through a delivery app. Please note that you need to be able to collect this from the Abbey wing entrance yourself and be clear in your instructions that this is separate to the main hospital entrance.
Kitchen facilities and small snacks are also available for parent use if their baby is in the neonatal unit.
Additional Support
Being transferred can be a very difficult and worrying time. If you have any questions, please ask the nurses, midwives and doctors looking after you. Also, if you would like to access other support such as those below, please mention this to your care team.
Birth Support: The Birth Support and Reflections service can be accessed whilst you or your baby are receiving care from us, or much later on when you feel ready. You can self-refer for the birth reflection service by calling 01932 722879. If there is no-one to take your call, please leave a message and they will return your call as soon as possible.
Chaplaincy: The Chaplain is available for emotional support regardless of religion, 24 hours a day.
Spiritual Needs: The St. Peter’s Hospital Multi-Faith Centre, which is open to everyone, is on Level 3 by the Duchess of Kent entrance in the main hospital. The Centre is open from 8.00am - 6.00pm each day. Security staff will unlock it at other times if needed. The Centre includes a Chapel, a Multi-Faith Prayer Room, a Quiet Room, and an Ablutions Room for those who practice ritual washing before prayer.
Links to other support resources
- St Peter’s Neonatal Unit
https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/nicu
- Tommy’s
https://www.tommys.org
- Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity
https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk
- Twins Trust
https://twinstrust.org
- Association for Postnatal Illness
https://apni.org/
Contact Numbers
Labour ward: 01932 722864
If your baby is in the neonatal unit then you will be given the appropriate nursery number as well as further information about the neonatal unit. This can also be found at https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/nicu
