New maternity unit plan for Downe

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A new midwife-led maternity unit will open at the Downe Hospital in Downpatrick later this month.

Women with normal pregnancies and no medical risk factors will be able to deliver their babies in the new unit.

It will be open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday with plans to extend to the weekend in the near future.

It is hoped that the new unit will serve 300 women per year. The local health trust said it would provide more choices.

Chief executive of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Hugh McCaughey, said: "This is just another example of how the Downe is evolving to meet the needs of the community.

"There has been a lot of publicity lately saying we are running services down. This is further evidence of our commitment to the Downe, and to improving services for the local community."

Last month, the trust said it was considering closing beds and cutting the Accident and Emergency night service because of staff shortages.

The hospital opened in June 2009 at a cost of £64m.