A MATERNITY ward which serves Knutsford’s mothers has been handed a funding boost.

East Cheshire NHS Trust has been awarded £83,000 to ‘modernise’ its maternity care at Macclesfield Hospital.

It is one of more than 100 hospitals which will share a £25 million Government fund to improve and upgrade their maternity units after trust bosses decided to apply for a part of the grant.

At Macclesfield the three labour rooms are in need of new en-suites, lighting, storage facilities, bed heads, floors and comfortable furniture.

While the fourth labour ward is a pool room, the pool is small, with insufficient access to ensure effective movement and mobility, with limited access for the midwives.

The pool room requires the installation of new birth pool, floor, en-suite, lighting, storage facilities and furniture.

Dr Dan Poulter, health minister, said: “A new arrival in the family is a joyous time, but it can present a real challenge for mums and families, particularly those experiencing it for the first time.

“We are now going to see huge improvements to maternity services right across the country – from birthing pools to family rooms and even new midwifery-led units.

“These will make a big difference to the experience mums and families have of NHS maternity services, with more choice and a better environment where women can give birth.

“Maternity units have had to show evidence that they asked mums and dads about what changes they need to make – so we know that these are the changes local people really want to see.”