MIDWIVES at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, have been presented with an Innovation Award from the Royal College of Midwives, for their work with ethnic minority communities in the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley area.

The award was presented to Sheena Byrom, consultant midwife and Anita Fleming, casehold midwife team leader, at a ceremony in London.

The Maternity Unit, based at the hospital, serves a culturally diverse population with 33 per cent of babies being born to women from an Asian background.

Staff working in the unit together with partners from the health and voluntary sectors have introduced a number of initiatives.

Led by Sheena Byrom, a weekly maternity 'drop in' facility was established about three years ago for women from South Asian communities. The content of the sessions was determined by the women themselves and now, two women from the group have undergone training so that they can lead the sessions.

Sheena said: "I am delighted to receive the Royal College of Midwives Award on behalf of myself and my colleagues. Although the Award was presented to me, it was very much a reflection of the dedication, enthusiasm and hard work put in by midwives of the Queen's Park Hospital maternity unit."