Airedale General Hospital was today given a slice of a £25 million fund to improve maternity units.

The hospital in Steeton, near Keighley, will receive £748,000 for its New Life: Improving The Birthing Experience project.

The scheme aims to use money the towards creating “an enhanced, family-focused, woman-centred caring environment, which will improve the patient experience and allow greater choice of birthing environment for expectant women and their families”.

Plans include creating a home-from-home environment, increasing access to birthing pools, installing modern bathroom facilities in each birthing room, and improving the family and bereavement areas.

The £25m cash pot is being shared between 100 hospitals that applied for the funding in November.

Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said: “Maternity units have had to show evidence that they asked mums and dads about what changes they need to make – so we know these are the changes local people really want to see.”