A BUMPER bundle of joy has been delivered at Blackpool Victoria Hospital's maternity unit

A whopping £720,000 cash injection will be used to modernise the delivery suite at the Vic and improve the overall environment as part of £100 million provided by the Government for upgrading maternity units across the country.

Five of the 13 rooms on the delivery suite are to be expanded to provide en-suite facilities and accommodation for partners to stay overnight with mums in labour.

And all 13 delivery suite rooms are to be refurbished to make them more homely. Extra patient comforts such as reclining chairs are also to be included.

A hospital spokeswoman said that the upgrade work would probably start around March next year and would take up to six months to complete.

David Wells, directorate manager for obstetrics and gynaecology at Blackpool Victoria Hospital Trust, said patients and their families should notice a real difference.

He said that a recent patient survey had identified the need to improve delivery suite facilities. "We are delighted that this money will enable us to do that.

"By expanding the rooms on the delivery suite we will now be able to provide overnight accommodation for partners.

"The overall environment of the delivery suite will also be vastly improved and will be more welcoming," he said.

The £100 million government money, which will help to improve 208 maternity units across England, is the largest ever single investment by the government to improve maternity care.