East Lancs scoops national maternity service award

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s maternity services have scooped a top UK award for their innovative work to improve maternity services, promote normal births and facilitate staff engagement activities.

By The Newsroom

Published 26th Jan 2014, 08:00 BST

The Trust was awarded the (RCM) Royal College of Midwives’ Mothercare Maternity Service of the Year Award jointly with Downpatrick Community Maternity Services and NHS Forth Valley, Scotland.

East Lancashire maternity services received the award for improving normal birth rates, reducing Caesarean section rates and increasing birth choice for mothers. Furthermore, the reconfiguration of services and the development of freestanding and alongside birth centres that have good recruitment and retention rates along with supporting 92 home births added to the services award winning criteria.

Our picture shows broadcaster and celebrity Natasha Kaplinsky (far left), who presented the awards, with members of the maternity team at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as they receive their award for Maternity Service of the Year.