What's the difference between a birth centre and labour ward?

As a Pregnancy Yoga & Hypnobirthing teacher based in the Salisbury area I am incredibly excited about the opening of the new Beatrice Birth Centre in Salisbury. Up until now our only options have been either been giving birth on labour ward at Salisbury Maternity Unit or having a home birth. Many first time Mums who come along to my classes are attracted (as I was) to the idea of a homebirth but don’t have quite enough trust in their body and lots of fear of the unknown. If you’d like the homely, laid-back experience of being at home but with the security net of being just up the corridor from labour ward then a birth centre is the perfect choice for you.

The most common question I get asked when talking about the new Beatrice Birth Centre (which I do A LOT) is "it might sound silly but what is a birth centre" or "what is the difference between a birth centre and labour ward"