Hayley MaceA �635,000 investment is being made in midwifery services so that all women in Great Yarmouth and Waveney can benefit from one-to-one care during labour.Hayley Mace

A �635,000 investment is being made in midwifery services so that all women in Great Yarmouth and Waveney can benefit from one-to-one care during labour.

NHS Yarmouth and Waveney is currently recruiting 11 midwives and three assistant midwives so that it can improve the choice and quality of services available to women during pregnancy and while in labour.

Eight of the positions have already been filled and it is hoped that the others will be recruited and in place by the middle of next year, all based at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston.

The availability of ante and post-natal care has also been increased in the area, with sessions now available six days a week.

Elaine Mash, commissioning manager for children and maternity with NHS Yarmouth and Waveney, said: 'The 'maternity matters' programme ensures that every expectant mother is offered convenient, effective help and support at a time and place which suits them, from the moment they find out they're pregnant until after they have delivered their baby.

'We are committed to ensuring that mothers in Yarmouth and Waveney have happy, healthy pregnancies, with all the help and support they need to give their babies the best start in life.

'This extra investment in new staff, coupled with the initiatives we are introducing across the region, will allow us to achieve that aim.'

She said that patient satisfaction surveys have recently been carried out to get feedback and identify areas for improvement. New information leaflets are also being designed to offer information to those in early pregnancy details about booking appointments with a midwife and looking after their health.

Carol Mutton, head of midwifery at the James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Maternity services are delighted with the investments made and the additional resources can only improve the scope of the services that we provide.'