A MATERNITY appeal has been launched to raise £250,000 in aid of Furness General Hospital's new maternity unit.

The Bayb’s Maternity Appeal is aimed at making the new £11 million ward among the best equipped in the country.

Included on the list of items that the Bay Hospitals Charity wants to buy is a state of the art, life-like mannequin that is realistic to the touch and is fitted with a computer chip that allows her to be programmed to experience a range of birthing difficulties.

Staff working in maternity services will gain practical, hands-on experience of dealing with all types of delivery suite complications.

Sascha Wells, director of Midwifery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, said: "Most births are relatively straightforward so it’s vitally important that all staff working in maternity services have the confidence that only experience brings to manage situations in which difficulties do arise.

"By giving them continuous access to practical training through cutting edge simulation equipment, which for all intents and purposes react just like a real birthing mum, we can ensure our teams gain hands on experience maintaining the right level of skills and knowledge that instinctively rise to the fore if faced with a problem."

The appeal is also raising funds for an additional three birthing pools to ensure that any mum-to-be wanting a water birth can have the option of one.

Other items include TVs, docking stations, birth partner stay-over beds and a special room for parents of babies too poorly to go home, ergonomic swinging cots to ensure baby gets closer to mum and contemporary décor in all rooms.

Finally, the appeal is also raising funds for a new bereavement suite and private garden area that will provide a calm, reflective space, offering parents solace when faced with the loss of a baby.

Plans are being drawn up for a range of activities and events to support the Bayb’s Maternity Appeal. These are detailed on the Bay Hospitals Charity website. To log on, visit www.bayhospitalscharity.org