The maternity unit at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton has recently celebrated an important milestone.

Isla Grace Alderson, who was born to parents Hayley and Paul Alderson, of Northallerton, on Saturday, March 21 was the 100th baby to be delivered at the hospital since it was downgraded to a midwife-led unit in October last year.

Of course, the decision to remove the consultants from the unit was hugely controversial and few, if any, parents and prospective parents served by the hospital wanted to see the change.

Indeed, the proposal prompted 4,000 people led by Richmond MP William Hague to march through Northallerton and more than 10,000 people to sign a petition. North Yorkshire County Council's health scrutiny committee twice referred the plan to the Health Secretary, only to have their concerns dismissed.

The change, however, was pushed through and we have no choice but to live with the consequences.

When the unit became a midwife-led service last year, NHS officials publicly noted that the reduced service would only survive long-term if mothers used it.

It is therefore heartening that six months later, 100 babies have been born in the unit. What has never been in-doubt is the care and professionalism of the midwives who work at the Friarage and it is testament to them

A MATERNITY unit which last year lost it’s consultant led service in a controversial downgrading has marked a major milestone.

The Friarage maternity unit in Northallerton, which was turned into a midwife led unit last October, has marked the birth of its 100th baby.

Isla Grace Alderson was born at 8.55am on Saturday, March 21, weighing a healthy seven pounds and half an ounce. She’s the second child of proud parents Hayley and Paul whose son Isaac was also born at the Northallerton hospital in 2012.

The unit became midwife led after protestors lost their battle to keep the consultant service when health bosses said it was unaffordable and unsustainable.

A major campaign was launched by thousands of people to maintain the service fearing women facing more complicated births would have to travel to Middlesbrough or Darlington, adding up to an hour to their journey.

The Northallerton staff are keen to make sure people realise they can still have their babies at the Friarage. They say they provide friendly individualised care to women with straightforward pregnancies, partners can stay in en-suite rooms during and after the birth and women with high risk pregnancies can still receive outpatient antenatal care. But for more complicated births expectant mothers have to go to a consultant-led obstetric unit where facilities for complications are more immediately available.

Deborah Hebblethwaite, a midwife and the maternity centre’s manager, said: “We’re thrilled to have delivered the 100th baby and wish the family all the very best. I think there are still some people out there who think we’re not here anymore but we are and have a great team. We’re looking forward to continuing to provide the care for lots more mothers and their babies at the centre.”

Hayley Alderson said: “My experience at the centre was really good, it felt more relaxed and I received great one-to-one care from the midwife. Our son, Isaac, was also born here before the changes took place but I’d definitely recommend it to any mums who are expecting and say ‘if you’ve got the opportunity to come here, do, it’s the way forward.”