MP praises local maternity group and hospitals trust after ‘successful’ Helme Chase open day

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has praised a local maternity group and the local hospitals trust for hosting a 'successful' open day at Helme Chase maternity unit in Kendal.

The open day, which was organised by the group Maternity Voices and Morecambe Bay Hospitals Trust, gave mums-to-be the opportunity to see the facilities and services at Helme Chase, including water birth, aromatherapy, hypnobirthing, and safe active birth.

Recent figures revealed that since the maternity unit at Helme Chase switched to an on-call system overnight and at weekends in 2014, along with the closing of the postnatal ward, the number of babies being born at the ward has dropped by almost 50%.

In a letter to the Chief Executive of the Morecambe Bay Trust, Tim said he wanted to work with the Trust to encourage mothers to choose the "fantastic" facility.

Tim said: "I'm absolutely delighted that the open day organised by the Trust, with the help of the brilliant Maternity Voices group, was a success.

"The event was well attended which not only shows that Helme Chase continues to be a fantastic facility for mothers giving birth, but that the Trust have answered our call to encourage people to choose Helme Chase.

"This show real commitment from the Trust that they are trying to increase the number of births at Helme Chase. I'm told that another open day will take place in the New Year."