Extra midwives are being trained in Northern Ireland to cope with an increase in the birth rate, it was confirmed today.
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has invested in the training of an extra 18 midwives at Queen's University, bringing the annual commission to 62.
A dozen of the midwifery students will be dedicated to supporting maternity services in the Southern Trust area where there is a particular increase in the rate of births.
"The increased birth rate across Northern Ireland, especially in the Southern Trust area, has resulted in additional pressures on maternity services," Mr McGimpsey said.
"To help training address this, I have invested in more midwives."
Earlier this month the minister announced plans for an expansion of maternity services at Craigavon Area Hospital to handle an extra 300 births a year.
PA