LOCAL MP CELEBRATES AS NATIONAL AWARD RECOGNIZES MATERNITY UNIT

11.21.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Jul 2010

Mark with Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg outside Stepping Hill Hospital

Mark Hunter MP had added his congratulations as a local maternity team is named highly commended in an award from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity (APPGM).

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust - Stepping Hill Hospital was recognised in the Involvement of Women in Providing Local Maternity Services category at the awards, which acknowledge inspiring or innovative work in improving local maternity services. They were presented at the APPGM summer reception on Monday 19 July at the Terrace Pavilion, Houses of Parliament.

The APPGM, which is serviced by the NCT, the UK's largest parenting charity, is a cross-party group whose aim is to highlight maternity issues within Parliament and bring together health professionals and service users with politicians.

Stepping Hill Hospital's strategy aims to forge a strong culture of partnership working between service users, providers and commissioners. They recognised that in order to achieve this they would need to build capacity within their pool of service users. A series of 'Talkback' events was planned to involve parents in improving the service.

Commenting, Mark said:

"It is fantastic to see our local health service making such achievements, and great news for many members of our community who rely on the maternity services of Stepping Hill Hospital."

Dr Dan Poulter MP, Chair of the APPGM, said: "It is a privilege to present these awards to such deserving and exemplary maternity units. The winning units' innovative work will be inspiration to other Trusts."

Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of NCT who are sponsoring the awards said: "We are celebrating the success of these awards as excellent examples of what can be achieved through committed staff, hard work and innovation in services."