£754k boost to Chorley maternity services (From Chorley Citizen)
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£754k boost to Chorley maternity services
5:24pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News
Improvements are to be made to maternity services at Chorley Hospital thanks to a cash boost.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has won a £754,000 investment in maternity services.
It will be used to develop a new midwifery-led birth centre at Royal Preston Hospital to complement the obstetric care already available, and to improve the birth centre at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.
Plans include developing en-suite accommodation in both birth centres, facilities for partners to stay overnight and support new mums, and begin the bonding process, and installing a number of birthing pools.
Sue Reed, nursing director for the trust, said: “This substantial investment is great news for women, partners and babies in Chorley and Preston, and will enable us to improve the birth environment in both hospitals, and give women greater choice.”
She added: “Midwifery-led care, provided in a birth centre, can provide mums who have uncomplicated pregnancies and labour with a better experience in a more relaxed environment. We are delighted to be able to offer local mums a full range of birth options, in a modern, comfortable, purpose-built environment.”
In November the trust applied to a new £25m Department of Health maternity services fund.
Applications for funding have only been approved where there was evidence that local mums and dads wanted the changes.
Bids were judged by a panel that included representatives from the Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
