WOMEN giving birth at Wallingford Community Hospital will benefit from a £340,000 funding boost for new maternity unit facilities.

The midwifery-led unit will now be revamped with more birthing pools and ensuite bathrooms.

The hospital in Reading Road is one of 100 sharing £25m of Department of Health funding for maternity units, with the money allocated to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Support services manager Sue Ainsworth said: “Staff are delighted, this is brilliant news.”

Currently there are no ensuite facilities and mums in labour and mums who have given birth have to share two bathrooms.

Following the revamp, there will be two ensuite birthing rooms with birthing pools, one additional birthing room and ensuite facilities for the postnatal ward.

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said: “Maternity units have had to show evidence that they asked mums and dads about what changes they need to make, so we know these are changes local people really want to see.”

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “It’s great to learn about the positive changes that this extra £25m will make to many units up and down the country.”

It is not yet known how long it will take to complete the revamp.