A RECRUITMENT drive has been launched to attract more midwives to work with women across the Southampton area.
An open day was held at the Princess Anne Hospital yesterday in a drive to recruit both qualified and trainee midwives.
Organisers also wanted to tempt former midwives to return to practice.
A rising birth rate across the region means that more midwives are needed to work at the eight bed birth centre in Hythe and at the Princess Anne Hospital's 13-bed Broadlands ward, five birth rooms and on the 15-bed high risk labour ward.
Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, responsible for local maternal services, currently employs 192 midwives but has not revealed how many more it wants to recruit.
Maria Dore, head of midwifery, said: "A constantly rising birth rate across the Southampton area means we are supporting more women and babies than ever before."
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