Baby boom to see ERI maternity care expand

Published on Tuesday 25 November 2008 08:51

MATERNITY services at the ERI are to be expanded to deal with a baby boom in the Lothians.

NHS board members will be told tomorrow of plans to create a new birthing centre at Little France next to the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health.

It will allow a further 1500 births a year, more than accommodating for trends on the back of an 11 per cent rise in the last four years.

Livingston's St John's Hospital will also have its maternity unit expanded under the plans.

Alex McMahon, NHS Lothian's deputy director of strategic planning and modernisation, said: "Lothian is thriving and that's attracting a lot of people here for work.

"At the same time, we want to reflect the views of expectant mothers and others on the sort of care we should be providing, from pre-conception advice to post-natal care.

"If the board agrees, we'll be launching a new public consultation in January."

The rise in births is being put down not only to people coming to live in the area but women prepared to have children in later life.