A maternity unit previously earmarked for closure under the Better Services Better Value Review (BSBV) will receive thousands of pounds for improvements.

St Helier Hospital’s maternity will get £177,000 from the Department of Health to create two new family rooms, en-suite facilities and new comfortable chairs for family members.

Last year the government opened a £25 million fund to applications from local NHS trusts and foundation trusts.

Other maternity units in the area which could also face closure under BSBV include Epsom which will receive £318,000, Kingston which will get £219,000 and Croydon University Hospital which will receive over £300,000.

BSBV has recommended that two hospitals in the region should lose their accident and emergency and maternity departments.

Tom Brake, the MP for Carshalton and Wallington, said: “I am delighted to hear that our maternity unit will get this much-needed boost. It is however mind-boggling how the BSBV review insist on closing the ward that the DOH evidently sees future in. 

“This is a clear signal that it is about time BSBV reconsidered their position on closing our vital health services.”

Sally Sivas, head of midwifery at the Epsom and St Helier Trust, said: “We are absolutely overjoyed to have been given this generous funding.

“It is wonderful news for local parents-to-be and it will help us to further improve the care we provide across our two busy maternity units.

“Our maternity teams work hard to provide the best possible care to parents-to-be and we’ve invested heavily in recent years to improve our maternity services, from the quality of the environment to the number of midwives on duty.

“However, this new funding will help us to offer women and their partners a greater choice about the type of birth they have, and means that we can make those little tweaks to further improve our maternity units.”