One year of care in the new Obstetrics and Newborn Care Unit at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital

Staff reflect on how the unit has transformed care for families, improved the working environment for care teams

One year after opening its doors, the Jean Elizabeth Saunders Irving Obstetrics and Newborn Care Unit at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital (TMH) has become something more than a new physical space.

For the families who begin their stories there, and for the staff who guide them through some of life’s most profound moments, the unit represents a fundamental shift in how care is delivered, experienced, and felt.

Officially opened on May 14, 2025, the nearly 30,000-square-foot unit was designed to transform the delivery of obstetrical and newborn care by bringing a full spectrum of services together under one roof.

It features the latest technology in a space built for safety, quality, and patient-centred care, such as wireless fetal monitors and purpose-built rooms including spacious areas for families.

‘There was a real sense of pride’

For staff in the new unit, walking in for the first time was both exciting and affirming.

“There was a real sense of pride,” said Donna, a registered nurse in labour and birth with two decades of maternity experience.

Before the move, care was delivered across different parts of the hospital. Clinics, ultrasounds, labour and delivery, postpartum care, and neonatal intensive care (NNICU) were often separated by long distances.

“We worked hard to be family-centred in the old space, but it was difficult,” said Donna. “We just didn’t have the rooms or the flow to fully support families the way we wanted to.”

Those limitations were particularly familiar to Nicole, a licensed practical nurse and lactation consultant who has worked in maternity at TMH for the past 25 years.

“Space was the biggest challenge,” she said. “Four moms, four babies, four support people in one room. It was crowded, stressful, and exhausting for everyone.”

Together under one roof

Designed as part of Horizon’s Women and Children’s Health Program, the new unit brings together labour and birth, antepartum and postpartum care, NNICU services, maternal fetal medicine, breastfeeding support, and related clinics in one centralized location.

“When we finally got the keys, there were tears in my eyes,” Nicole recalled. “Where you work is like your second home. This felt like moving into a new house.”

That sense of renewal is reflected in how care is now delivered. Private, spacious rooms allow families to stay together throughout labour, birth, and recovery. Partners and support people are actively included, and separation between parents and newborns is minimized whenever possible.

Centralization has also strengthened collaboration among teams. With all services located within the same building, transitions are smoother, and communication is more immediate.

“It’s like a one-stop experience for families,” said Donna. “From pregnancy through postpartum, everything happens here, and that makes a huge difference.”

The unit’s design also prioritizes safety and efficiency. Dedicated obstetrical operating rooms and a post-anesthesia care unit allow staff to manage surgical deliveries without relying on the hospital’s main operating rooms, significantly reducing response times in emergencies and improving outcomes for moms and babies.

Transforming the NNICU experience

That emphasis on proximity and preparedness extends into neonatal care. Working in the NNICU, registered nurse Allison sees the difference the new space makes every day.

“This was the change we needed,” she said. “Not just for staff, but most importantly for babies and families.”

In the former NNICU, parents were unable to stay at the bedside, and babies were cared for in shared pod spaces. The new NNICU allows families to remain with their babies throughout their stay, providing privacy, dignity, and opportunities for bonding during some of the most critical early days.

“That makes a huge difference emotionally, but also developmentally for babies,” said Allison.

The new unit also supports the highest standards of neonatal care, with dedicated rooms for medication preparation, milk mixing, sterile procedures, and charting, allowing staff to function fully as a level-three NNICU.

Allison’s commitment to neonatal care is deeply personal. Her own son spent 56 days in a NNICU, an experience that shaped her nursing career and her approach to supporting families.

“Helping families through those early, scary days and then watching them finally take their baby home, that will never get old,” she said.

This transformational project was a partnership between Horizon, the Government of New Brunswick, and the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation.

“The Extraordinary Care Capital Campaign, chaired by the late Robert Irving, reflected the incredible compassion and generosity of our community,” said Frances LeBlanc, President and CEO of the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation. “Because of our donors, volunteers, partners, and supporters, patients and families are receiving the exceptional care they deserve, close to home. Seeing the impact this campaign has already made on patients and staff in just its first year is truly inspiring.”

Irving passed away on May 19, 2026, at the age of 71. His unwavering commitment to supporting patients, families, and health care teams through the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation has had a profound impact on New Brunswickers. His legacy will be felt throughout TMH — from the Irving Family Reception lobby to the Irving Ambulatory Care Centre and the Jean Elizabeth Saunders Irving Obstetrics and Newborn Care Unit, named in honour of his mother.

One year later

Across the unit, staff describe a noticeable shift in morale. Thoughtful design has eased congestion, improved workflow, and fostered stronger connections between teams who previously worked apart.

“It really feels like one big unit,” added Nicole. “We’re no longer separated. We see each other every day, and that strengthens collaboration.”

As the unit marks its first anniversary, staff say the impact continues to unfold with every birth, every recovery, and every family supported through challenging beginnings.

In a typical year, close to 1,200 babies are born at TMH, with about 200 requiring admission to the NNICU. In addition, there are more than 3,500 visits to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic.

In just over a year since opening, the unit has welcomed more than 1,300 babies into the world, each family arriving with their own hopes, fears, and milestones, and leaving with a story that began within these walls.