Newry's Daisy Hill Hospital maternity unit is in line to receive an investment totaling half a million pounds, the Health Minister has confirmed.

Michael McGimpsey said the £500,000 investment is part of an overall plan to improve maternity services in the Southern Trust area.

The extra funding will mean an enhanced delivery suite; a dedicated induction area; improvements to the maternity ward and development of an assessment unit outside the maternity ward.

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Minister McGimpsey said: "I am committed to improving the quality of care and facilities available to mothers and their new babies and I want to ensure that mothers using the excellent services at Daisy Hill Hospital have a good experience and receive the best possible care."

Colm Donaghy, Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, said: "We are delighted to have secured this additional, much-needed funding to improve maternity services at Daisy Hill.

"Daisy Hill is a vital part of maternity provision in the Southern area and this investment will allow us to make significant improvements to our facilities."

The Minister recently announced investment of £3.5m in for the development of maternity services at Craigavon Area Hospital which will provide for an additional 300 births there each year, as well as providing funding for training of 12 additional midwives for the Southern Trust area.

(PR)