EXPECTANT mums can now give birth to their babies in Fareham again after the town's maternity unit re-opened.

It is the second time Blackbrook maternity unit has re-opened after temporary closures in the space of a year, fuelling fears that it could, once again, be the first casualty of the next midwifery recruitment crisis.

Health chiefs were unable to guarantee its long-term future, insisting the unit's seven midwives and health care workers were a part of their overall contingency plan to treat pregnant women across Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire.

The unit closed in January because of a shortage of midwives in Portsmouth.

Blackbrook's staff were moved to St Mary's so pregnant women would not have to be sent to Chichester and Southampton.

Health chiefs this week re-opened the unit thanks to a dip in the number of pregnant women going to St Mary's and more midwives being recruited.

Pat Forsyth, spokeswoman for Portsmouth Hospital's NHS Hospitals Trust, said: "In January we had a great influx of pregnant women and because of the shortage of midwives had to send patients to Southampton and Chichester.

"The trust took Blackbrook's staff to St Mary's, where they could be used more effectively and that worked very well.

"But now, as promised, we have relocated them back to Blackbrook."

Ann Curd, a midwife at Blackbrook, said: "We are all delighted to be back at Blackbrook and look forward to welcoming all the mums and babies.

"We would like to welcome anyone who wants to have their baby delivered here."

Margaret Lovell, chief officer of the patient watchdog, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Community Health Council, said she was delighted pregnant women could once again benefit from the unit's relaxed and informal atmosphere.

"Women who use it are nearer their homes so it makes it easier for families to visit.

"It's a valuable local facility and we want it to continue until there is something to replace it with - a community hospital in Fareham with its own maternity beds."