Rishi Sunak visits Friarage Hospital Maternity Centre

The Richmond and Northallerton MP met members of the unit, which has brought more than 2,000 healthy babies into the world in that time.

He also congratulated the team members who recently tackled the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail in just four days to raise money to make the unit an even more attractive place to give birth.

Walking more than 20 miles day and camping overnight, the team raised more than £4,000 for additional equipment and facilities to create a home-from-home environment in the unit’s birthing rooms.

Mr Sunak spoke to unit manager Clare McMann and her team about the walk and the success of the unit, which is run by a team of experienced midwives who provide care to women with straightforward pregnancies.

During his visit Mr Sunak also met the latest arrival on the unit – 6lb 10oz Florence and her proud parents Tim and Katie Smith-Burrows of Morton-on-Swale, who couldn’t praise the Friarage centre and the team enough.

Mr Sunak said: “The maternity centre is another great success story at the Friarage. Tim and Katie told me what a wonderful birth experience the Friarage team provided and that is the best recommendation for the great service provided here.

“The Friarage is a good choice for women who are keen to have a natural birth with minimum intervention.”

Ms McMann added: "I am proud to celebrate ten years of our midwifery-led unit and look forward to the next ten years and beyond, with the continued support of our wonderful local community.

"At the heart of our maternity unit is a commitment to family-centred care, where our dedicated and enthusiastic staff provide a range of services to all families throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period, tailored to each individual’s needs."

Friarage Maternity Centre factfile

There have been 2,103 births since it opened as a midwife-led unit

1,041 were boys

1,062 were girls

The heaviest was 4950g (10lb 14oz)

The smallest was 2180g (4lb 13oz)