A "HOTEL-style" birth suite has become the first part of Royal Bolton Hospital's new maternity super centre to open.

Staffed entirely by midwives, the suite was officially opened by the Department of Health's "maternity tsar" Gwyneth Lewis yesterday.

It will enable women to give birth in a more relaxed environment and has been planned and developed with input from mums who have had babies at the Royal Bolton Hospital, as well as expert staff.

Consultant midwife Cathy Atherton said: "This will give women far more choice. It will be a less clinical environment and will hopefully make women feel more comfortable in labour.

"The maternity super centre is starting to take shape."

The birth suite is in a previously unused ward in the Princess Anne Maternity Unit, directly above the delivery suite, and will be open next month.

Dr Lewis, who is the Department of Health's clinical lead for maternity services, said: "This will enable the women of Bolton to give birth in a home-like environment.

"It is almost like a hotel but they will be supported by midwives. This demonstrates why Bolton has been chosen as a centre of excellence for maternity services."

The birth suite has five en-suite birthing rooms, one with a birthing pool, and there is a lounge and relaxation area for women in early labour.

Mothers will also have their own area for making refreshments.

Patrina Bradshaw, who runs the peer support group Bolton Breast Buddies, which helps women with breastfeeding, was one of the mothers consulted on the birth suite.

Mrs Bradshaw gave birth to daughter, Jasmine, aged four, at Bolton and is eight-and-a-half months pregnant with her second child.

She said: "We were consulted to make it as comfortable as possible. It's great. It's much more friendly and relaxed. Our aim was to make it feel like you are not in a hospital."

Women who have had a normal pregnancy will be able to give birth in the new unit.

If complications arise, or they require stronger pain relief, they can be transferred to the main delivery suite.