MIDWIVES have teamed up with Bolton Council of Mosques (BCOM) to deliver a new service.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust 's community midwife team is preparing to launch its new two ay antenatal clinic at the Deane-based centre next week.

It comes at the trust celebrates International Day of the Midwife.

The antenatal drop-in sessions will run every Monday afternoon and whilst he service is largely aimed at the diverse ethnic communities in this area including women who may not have English as a first language, it is open to all who wish to access care at the location.

The drop-ins are available to discuss anything non-medical such as queries around preparation for labour, diet and other wellbeing factors during pregnancy, contraception following birth.

And on Tuesday there will be an antenatal clinic where women will attend their booked antenatal appointments throughout pregnancy.

It is hoped that more services will be established for families, including access to health visitors.

The team book over 1100 women a year in the BL3 area, so are caring for around 800 pregnant women at any one time.

Natasha Macdonald, head of midwifery at the yrust said: “We’re thrilled that the hub is ready to start serving those it has been created to support, and hope that it gives more options to them to access care locally in their community.

“The project has been a result of the continued efforts of our specialist cultural liaison midwife, Benash Nazmeen, who has been spending time with our diverse communities in Bolton to better understand their needs and how we can support them."

“Thanks to her and to BCOM, we are looking forward to bringing maternity care closer to home.”

Savannah Dallas-Cross, Midwifery Team Leader added: "We are proud to offer maternity services in the heart of the community. We hope that working with BCOM will improve access to care and the overall experience of maternity care for the women and their families"

Imteyaz Ali, on behalf of Bolton Council of Mosques who are providing the space and helping to promote the service in the community said: “It’s a real privilege to have the maternity team from Bolton NHS Foundation Trust here as our working partners.

“We are proud with what we have already achieved in the community, and that can only happen with key partners such as the hospital.

“At the most challenging times we may have ever faced, we have all worked tirelessly to support our communities in many ways, so that they have not felt alone and we will continue to do this.“The maternity service is a much needed service and we are privileged and honoured that it can serve the community from BCOM the centre hub. This is another service which we hope will be a stepping stone to other work we can do together to help the community.”