Views are sought on maternity care plans

Residents are being asked for their views on how they would improve maternity care in Sunderland.

The state-of-the-art Midwifery-Led Birthing Centre at South Tyneside District Hospital has welcomed more than 100 babies since it opened last August while there is midwife-led care and consultantled care at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Now NHS organisations are looking for views to help shape and improve services, in particular in the creation of a community maternity hub in South Tyneside.

A Maternity Voices event will take place on Thursday, February 13, from 11am to 2pm at Hebburn Central, Glen Street.

Sheila Ford, Head of Midwifery at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted with the response we’ve had from mams and dads since introducing our new model of maternity care, in particular those who have used the new birthing centre in South Tyneside.

“The positive feedback is really important to our brilliant maternity staff in both hospitals who’ve worked really hard to make the changes such a success.

“We really listened to what local women told us about what was important to them and our maternity teams have used their feedback in the way we have developed our services so far. This has included making sure our new birthing centre in South Tyneside provides a calm and relaxing environment and a home away from home.”

Register for the event at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ help-develop-maternity services-in-south- tyne side and- sunderland-registration -8 047325868