Following today’s announcement that the Independent Refiguration Panel has recommended Hope Hospital retain its maternity services, local MP Hazel Blears, said:

“High quality Maternity services will continue in Salford, meaning that Salford women can continue to choose to have their babies born in Salford.

"I am very pleased that the Independent Reconfigurations Panel report contains the strong recommendation that Hope Hospital should continue to have stand-alone maternity services.

*I will work with Hope Hospital to make these changes work in the best interests of Salford mums and families.

*This has been a rigorous and independent process, and as a local MP I have made representations at every stage to ensure that babies can still be born in Salford and this is still the case.”