David Ruffley MP officially opened the new £470,000 midwifery-led birthing unit at West Suffolk Hospital on 10 December. Designed to provide a 'home-from-home' environment for women who want a natural birth, the unit has four individual rooms with en-suite rooms, and one with a birthing pool.

Speaking after unveiling a plaque to commemorate his official opening of the new unit, David said: 'The new birthing unit is a wonderful addition to the NHS provision available in Bury St Edmunds. The new unit provides mums-to-be with everything they need: from a birthing pool to floor mattresses, aromatherapy and massage. The rooms have minimal visible medical equipment and are decked out with furnishings, music, pictures and soft lighting. It is hoped that by providing a safe, sensitive and supportive environment in which to give birth the number of women who need medical interventions will be reduced. Emergency equipment is on hand and mothers can get specialist care from the hospital's obstetric team if needed.'

David Ruffley also took the opportunity to make an extensive tour of the hospital including the Emergency Admissions Unit and the Respiratory Ward.

'It was a pleasure visiting my hospital and an honour to have my name on a plaque commemorating the opening of the new unit. Once again I met so many of the amazing people who are dedicated to giving the best care possible to their patients in our NHS. The West Suffolk Hospital is doing well and the new birthing unit is just one example of how the NHS is making the lives of people in Suffolk better. In these difficult financial times it's vital to keep up pressure on the Government to make sure we get the valued healthcare services we need.'