Nappy days!

£44m maternity hospital will be delivered

Oldham is to get a new multi-million maternity hospital which will include an intensive care unit for babies.

The £44million development was given the green-light by chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander.

The four-storey building will include delivery rooms, operating theatres, including a paediatric theatre, and more maternity beds. It will be built on the Royal Oldham site.

The news came as Mr Alexander announced to the Commons projects worth billions of pounds were being cancelled, including the £450 million new North Tees and Hartlepool Hospital.

But it was good news for Oldham when Mr Alexander confirmed that the Pennine Acute Hospital scheme would go ahead.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: “This is great news. It is the next step on the path for the Royal Oldham to become one the country’s top hospitals. The effort by the hospital management has been relentless.

“The history of the Royal Oldham going back to the world’s first test tube baby, Louise Brown, also put it in good stead.”

Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher said: “This is extremely welcome news.

“It is a very important development and will provide a very expert service.”

Paul Mainwaring, chairman of the Patient’s Council said: “We have just over 7,000 members from Oldham, many of whom are current mums. We welcome the news, it’s a service that has been under pressure and a service that is vital to our future.”