HINCHINGBROOKE Hospital’s new labour ward have been given an official seal of approval.

Chairman of Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust, Sue Smith, unveiled a plaque commemorating the refurbishment alongside associate director of elective and maternity services, Jan Palmer, general surgeon, Bassam Bekdash and consultant gynaecologist, Suzanne Hamilton last week.

Mums and their new arrivals have been taking advantage of new state-of-the-art facilities at the hospital since March.

The refurbished ward includes ensuite facilities in each of the seven birthing rooms, as well as new ventilation, new floors, replacement windows and a new midwife station have been built.

New furniture and new baby resuscitation equipment have also been added to the ward.

Janet Driver, general manager for women’s services said: “The labour ward accepted its first women at the beginning of March and we have had a fantastic response from everyone who has used it so far.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our women excellent facilities in a newly refurbished environment. We have recently been named as the top Trust in the East of England for providing high quality care within the maternity services and have also achieved the highest accreditation available for the management of safety surrounding pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.”