A novel addition to Armley Library is giving parents support from midwives and healthcare professionals in the same place they browse for their favourite books.
New “wellbeing pods” have officially launched in eight of the city’s libraries and community hubs, including Armley. They are the first of their kind to be hosted by any library service in the UK.
A joint initiative between the NHS in Leeds and Leeds Libraries, the pods are small, clinical rooms converted from old interview rooms, or added in as stand alone, enclosed pods.
Pods in each library are booked by midwives and other NHS services, who then manage their appointments and timings directly with patients. Each of the pods can be used by midwives or other healthcare professional and are complete with an examination bed, sink, seating area, and leaflet rack.
Midwife Charlotte Compton said: “The hub provides a welcoming, safe space for women in the local area to access maternity care. It is a well-known location and very accessible for people to get to. It also enables women to access other services being offered here whilst they visit.”
Andrea Ellison, Leeds Libraries’ chief librarian, added: “By giving local people this new opportunity to see a midwife or healthcare professional when they visit their local library, we are linking even more of the city’s support services together and further emphasising the role which libraries play at the heart of our communities.”
Wellbeing Pods are currently situated in eight libraries and community hubs: Armley, Compton, Headingley, Holt Park, Hunslet, Reginald Centre, St. George’s Centre, Seacroft.
More information about libraries in Leeds can be found here.
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