NHS Devon's board is to be asked to consider keeping overnight stays for some new mothers at community hospitals next week.

Proposals were put forward earlier this year to change the way maternity services were organised at home and in community hospital birthing units in Okehampton, Tiverton and Honiton.

This included reducing overnight stays in hospitals so that it could boost midwife support for mums in the community.

Now, after listening to mothers and other important stakeholders during a three-month engagement process, NHS Devon has recommended changes to the original proposal.

The trust's board will now be asked to consider providing a night-time service with midwifery support workers.

Midwives would still work on an on-call basis at night, so they would be available where needed, either in the hospital or the home.

This would mean that overnight stays would still be possible for women assessed as clinically fit to be discharged after a normal birth, but considered by a midwife to need additional support.

The suggestion of providing overnight stays with midwifery support workers came out of a public meeting held in Honiton - one of five such meetings.

According to the trust mothers in Okehampton, where the model has been in place since 2006, say it works well.

GPs on the recently formed Clinical Commissioning Executive Committee, which represents doctors in the county, say they are pleased that NHS Devon has listened.