STAFF and mothers have enjoyed a sneak preview of South Cumbria's new state-of-the-art maternity unit ahead of its official opening.

The £12million South Lakes Birthing Centre, situated at Furness General Hospital, Barrow, will officially open on February 14.

However, tours of the new facility took place for midwives and members of the public last weekend and excitement is mounting among staff and in the community ahead of the opening.

Sascha Wells, Director of Midwifery at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, said that walking through the new unit was 'emotional'.

"It's absolutely awesome to know that this is what the community and the staff have achieved together," she said. "And we can't wait to get in there and start delivering care."

The centre, named by the public and staff, is made up of 14 en-suite birthing rooms with facilities for partners to stay over, two dedicated operating theatres, a special care baby unit, a maternity assessment area, a transitional care facility, a skills lab for staff training and a bereavement suite.

Building started on the unit in September 2016 and has taken just under 15 months to complete.

One of the recommendations of the Morecambe Bay Investigation report, written by Dr Bill Kirkup, was improving the physical environment of the delivery suite at FGH. The investigation was set up by the Secretary of State for Health in September 2013 following concerns over tragedies and serious incidents that happened in the maternity unit at FGH.

Dr Kirkup, a national expert for investigations, published his report in 2015 and made 44 recommendations – 18 of which were for the trust, and the rest for the wider NHS.

Ms Wells explained that the trust had worked with the families of those involved in the investigation to ensure that the unit met expectations.

"They wanted to work with us to be able to help us to change things within the community and within maternity services," she said. "And it's not just about this building, they've helped us develop clinical guidelines, write job descriptions, been part of the interview process for midwives and many other roles."

And staff, she said, were 'really excited' to get into the new fit-for-purpose centre.

"They're telling me that they can't wait. That they're incredibly inspired and motivated and they're really excited," Mrs Wells said. "They're just wishing the next couple of weeks away so they can get in there."

The unit will welcome its first woman in early February 2018. Dr Bill Kirkup and Furness MP John Woodcock will both be involved in the opening.

"The unit belongs to the community," Ms Wells said. "It is theirs. We are just the custodians of it.

"I think we have to say to the community that we will never forget the past, we will never forget that we got it so wrong. By not forgetting we can make sure we continue to get it right as much as we possibly can."