THERE was some excellent news this week for expectant mothers in West Devon — NHS Devon has approved recommendations to keep overnight stays for some new mums at community birthing units, including the one at Okehampton.

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.

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

The NHS in Devon say that after listening to mothers and other important stakeholders during a three-month engagement process, its recommended changes to the original proposal, have now been approved by the trust board.

The board agreed to the amended proposals to provide a night-time service with midwifery support workers. Midwives will still work on an on-call basis at night, so they are available where needed, either in the hospital or the home.

It means that overnight stays in Okehampton will 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.

Mothers in Okehampton, where the model has been in place since 2006, say it works well.

On average 120 to 130 babies are delivered each year either at Okehampton maternity unit or at home by Okehampton midwives. The unit employs nine whole-time equivalent midwives and five support staff.

GPs on the recently formed clinical commissioning executive committee, which represents doctors in the county, said they are pleased that NHS Devon has listened.

A committee spokesperson said: 'The committee notes the proposal has been amended in light of the feedback received and is pleased that a position that will support parents' wishes for access to overnight stays and transfers, improved breastfeeding support and better caseloads has been achieved.

'The committee recognises this maintains a different model in one aspect of the service in one part of Devon and would not advocate extending this further.'

Jayne Carroll, director of strategic commissioning for NHS Devon, said: 'We are very pleased that the recommendations made to the board have been approved.

'We have been able to balance the clinical advice and national evidence with the views of local people, to provide an adapted proposal we have confidence in.

'From the outset we have said that we wanted to listen to parents and parents to be and take account of their suggestions and concerns. I think that today we have demonstrated we've done just that.'

The clinical commissioning executive committee is made up of GPs, NHS Devon directors and other health professionals.

Approximately 500 babies are born at community hospitals in East and West Devon every year, and more than 3,500 at the RD&E hospital. NHS Devon wants to see more babies born in community settings by providing the right support.