SALISBURY hospital could be set to receive a new maternity unit to take pressure off overstretched doctors.

A proposal from Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), responsible for healthcare provision in the county, suggests creating an alongside midwifery unit (AMU) at Salisbury District Hospital.

The unit would run alongside the existing obstetric unit, and allow low-risk women to give birth there led by midwives rather than doctors.

In Wiltshire, 85 per cent of births take place across three obstetric units in Salisbury, Swindon and Bath. And demand for obstetric-led care is increasing, as low-risk women also choose to give birth there.

A new unit in Salisbury would allow women to give birth in an environment where they can transfer easily and quickly to an obstetric unit if necessary.

Wiltshire CCG say the plan, part of a wider proposal throughout its area, will provide more choice for mothers and reduce pressure on existing staff.

And it said the proposal addresses social changes, including a higher average birth age for mothers (now 35), and factors including high blood pressure, obesity or diabetes leading to more high-risk births.

The plans also take into account proposed changes in housing policy in the area and the impact of the army basing programme, which will see more than 4,000 military personnel return to south Wiltshire from next spring.

Wiltshire CCG says it is not planning to reduce how much it spends on maternity services, nor to reduce the amount of staff or close any buildings.

The proposals come after feedback was sought from more than 2,000 women and families, staff, midwives, obstetricians and others with an interest in maternity services across the region.

To comment on the consultation visit transformingmaternity.org.uk before February 24, 2019.