More than 60 visitors had a look around Ealing Hospital’s new birth centre in the wake of proposals to stop births at the maternity unit.

The hospital’s maternity and paediatric units and its A&E are under threat as NHS North West London proposes to cut hospital services.

Under the proposals Ealing Hospital would be downgraded to a ‘local hospital,’ stripping nine of the 11 major types of service currently provided on-site including its maternity, obstetric and paediatric units, forcing residents to travel out of the the borough.

The closest ‘major hospital’ to the Ealing complex, and the only one within five miles, will be West Middlesex Hospital more than three miles away in Isleworth.

Inspite of this, the hospital was keen to show off the birth centre, part of a £301,000 investment in the maternity unit.

The open day on Sunday (September 8) was open to anyone that wanted to have a look, whether they were already pregnant and booked at Ealing or booked at another unit or if they were planning a baby and wanted to see what Ealing had to offer. Visitors were shown the new birth centre, labour and postnatal wards and especially the new family room.

Lesley Deacon, Head of Midwifery said: “It is really important for the maternity unit at Ealing to showcase the new improvements, developments and renovations that are ongoing. We want to send out the message that we are still open for business. We had a visitor’s book that we asked for people to write in.

A further open day will be organised in the near future however anyone that wants to see what we have to offer can attend the weekly tour. Please feel free to come and see us.”

The weekly tour meets in the antenatal clinic opposite Costa every Saturday morning at 9.30am.