Northwick Park Hospital 's maternity ward is apparently not in danger of being over-capacity - despite a warning that increased birth rates would overload it.

The closure of Ealing Hospital 's maternity ward in July last year forced north west London hospitals to plan for 3,000 extra expected deliveries per year between them, an NHS report said.

It is claimed this is 500 more than the average number of annual deliveries Ealing Hospital saw, as a means for preparation.

The report, forecasting from April 2015 to March 2017, also claims that no maternity unit would exceed the number of births it could accommodate - apart from Northwick Park Hospital.

'Projected to exceed maximum capacity'

Brent birth rates, coupled with the closure of Ealing's maternity ward , meant Northwick Park Hospital was "projected to exceed its maximum annual capacity if no action is taken".

A spokesperson at Ealing Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), however, said that the predicted increase in births in Brent had so far not materialised.

She added that in the financial year from April 1, 2015, to the end of March, 2016, 5,000 babies were born which was less than the 5,250 forecast for Northwick Park Hospital.

She added: "There is plenty of capacity within the maternity unit at Northwick Park Hospital.

"In 2015/16, 5000 babies were born at Northwick Park, this is 250 less than forecast.

"Following the changes to maternity services last July an average of 20 additional women from Ealing give birth at the hospital each month.

"This is in line with the numbers that were planned for".

'Capacity of 5,300'

The NHS report, led by North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups, predicts that 5,333 births will be expected at Northwick Park Hospital in 2016/17- 33 over its capacity of 5,300.

But the CCG spokesperson said the hospital has already taken its bookings from mothers from Ealing Hospital and there is no indication it will surpass capacity.

She added it would only need urgent review if there was a sudden surge in birth rates, which has so far not been indicated.

But Ealing Save Our NHS campaigner Oliver New said the increase in mothers at hospitals, particularly Northwick Park Hospital, was still "unfair" on the midwifery staff and mothers.

In the NHS report, a "number of midwives" commented that their workload had increased because of the transition.

Mr New said: "It is particularly unfair to local mothers - they have to do all of that travelling with a worse service than before.

"And it is more difficult on the hospital workers - who are not prepared to cope".