Barking Community Hospital

Women are being asked to share their experiences of using the new maternity unit at Barking Community Hospital.

The council would like feedback from those who have used the facility since it began taking patients last month.

Health chiefs were criticised by Barking MP Margaret Hodge, residents and councillors for not opening the maternity unit when the hospital was completed in November 2011.

Councillor Maureen Worby, cabinet member for health, said: “The [opening] is long overdue but is a step in the right direction. It means that for the first time in 20 years, local women will be able to give birth in Barking and Dagenham without having to travel outside the borough.

“As councillors we have fought to have this facility opened for some time – an element of our health campaign last year.”

To share your experiences of the maternity unit please call Glen Oldfield on 020 8227 5796 or email glen.oldfield@lbbd.gov.uk on behalf of the Health and Adult Services Select Committee.