§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which health trusts have expressed an interest in developing midwife-led maternity facilities. [187768]
§ Angela SmithThere is already a midwife-led unit adjacent to the consultant obstetric unit at Craigavon hospital. Similar midwife-led units are planned for a number of other hospital sites including the Altnagelvin, Ulster and Royal sites and the new hospital for the south-west.
In addition, on 29 July I announced my decision to allow the development of Community Midwifery Units (stand-alone midwife-led units) in Northern Ireland. My announcement has opened the way for Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts to consider the potential for establishing Community Midwifery Units as part of the wider implementation of Developing Better Services and the associated reconfiguration of hospital and other health services.