McGimpsey welcomes birth of first baby at Downe Hospital

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has welcomed the birth of the first baby at the new community midwifery led unit at the Downe Hospital.

The baby girl, named Jorja, was born at 10.07 today, weighing in at 6lb 14.5 ozs.

The Minister said: “I offer my sincere congratulations to Claire Clarke and Martin Curran on the birth of their little girl, Jorja. I extend my best wishes to all the family for the future.”

The state-of-the-art maternity unit comprises three fully equipped rooms, each with its own ensuite facilities and birthing pool.

Mr McGimpsey said: "The stand-alone community midwifery unit, the first of it’s kind in Northern Ireland, offers women with low risk pregnancies the option of giving birth in a ‘home from home’ environment, led by skilled midwives.

“When fully operational, the unit will have the capacity to handle 300 births each year. Initially operating 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, it is planned that once the recruitment process has finished the unit will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Jorja’s mother Claire Clarke praised staff at the unit, saying: “Everyone at the unit was absolutely brilliant, supportive and friendly. It was just like being at home.”

Notes to editors:

1. One of the outcomes from a value for money audit into maternity services in 2006 was the proposal to develop a set of regional maternity notes for use by all women. In August 2008 a multi-professional working group was set up with representation from professional groups and users involved in the care of a woman and her baby during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.

2. Media enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.