A dramatic rise in the tragedy of babies born addicted to heroin in Bradford is set to lead to the creation of a new one-stop hospital service for expectant mothers, hailed as the first of its kind in the country.

Mothers-to-be using drugs will be given regular check-ups, detoxification or treatment from specialists to control drug use as well as help from health visitors and benefits advice in a new clinic starting next week.

The venture has been set up in response to a huge rise in the number of babies born to mothers using heroin - from only a handful five years ago to as many as 40 a year. And it is feared the number will continue to grow.

Doctors in Bradford believe there are also a number of women who hide their drug use or only reveal it late in their pregnancy.

They hope the service - which pioneers a partnership between hospital staff and family doctors - will encourage them to come forward earlier for help to reduce their drug dependency and improve the health of babies.

A detailed study of babies born to drug users will also be carried out to analyse problems commonly believed to include low birth-weight, a higher risk of premature birth and developmental delays in later life. Most babies already spend their first days in the neonatal unit undergoing detoxification.

Sian Jones, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist who will be part of the team running the clinic at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said it was hoped the single appointment for a range of services would encourage more women to get help. It was aimed to get as many as possible off drugs during pregnancy mainly through detoxification in the community although an in-patient service was also available.

A special drug liaison midwife would also be appointed to co-ordinate links between different agencies involved.

"Just as drug dependency is rising, so is it rising among pregnant women and we can expect that to increase in time," she said.

"They are a group which is quite difficult to reach because of their chaotic lifestyles and we want to offer them the best care possible in one visit because it's simply not practical to expect them to attend multiple appointments.''

Dr Michael Ross, who runs the drugs dependency clinical services unit in Bradford and will be one of a number of GPs involved in the clinic, said it was a major step forward. "I see this as a model of good practice, probably unique and pioneering in the whole country."

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