A brand new birthing centre has been opened following the demolition of a hospital's maternity unit.

The relocated freestanding Chorley Birth Centre within the Chorley and South Ribble Hospital site opened on Monday, and has become one of four place of birth options offered to all women booked within the Trust’s care.

The new centre offers active birthing equipment and birthing pools in each of the birth rooms in addition to clinical assessment/education areas for expectant mums in what's been described as an outstanding birth environment for women.

Divisional midwifery and nursing director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Janet Cotton, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the new birthing centre is now complete.

"We already have more than 300 women booked to birth at the centre supported by the Chorley Birth Centre continuity of carer team.

"We are really looking forward to opening the centre and welcoming our birth centre babies into the world.

“The development of the centre has truly been a combined effort and I want to thank everyone from our maternity teams to our contractors for their determined efforts and contribution to make the new centre happen”.

The former birth centre at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital was closed in February 2019 and services were relocated temporarily until the new birth centre was completed.

Nursing, Midwifery and AHP Director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sarah Cullen, said: “After a challenging year, I am so pleased to see that Chorley Birth Centre is now completed.

"This is a real boost – we are delighted to be able to provide expectant mums and their families with a fourth birthing choice, alongside Preston Birth Centre, the delivery suite at Preston and home births.

"This will make a huge difference for mums-to-be and their families in and around central Lancashire.”

An official, public opening of the Chorley Birth Centre will take place next year.