Doctors and midwives at the one-stop maternity drug dependency unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary have been named team of the year for their innovative work in patient care.

There were 23 births to drug-addicted women last year, but so far this year there have already been 26. And another 22 pregnant women are already known about.

Before the service was launched, staff found expectant mothers who used drugs were often driven 'underground' and only sought help at the last minute, some even giving birth before arrival at the maternity unit.

Clinical team leader Sian Jones said the number of drug-dependent pregnant women had been underestimated in the past and there was a worrying rise in the number of addicts using mixed drugs, which can increase the risk of cot death.

Miss Jones, consultant obstetrician, said: "Childbirth can have added complications for both drug users and their babies, resulting in a prolonged stay and specialist treatment in our neonatal unit.

"Our new approach is generating recognisable benefits with increased attendances at our ante-natal clinic and, more importantly, mums and babies alike returning quicker and healthier."

The unit, which deals on average with one birth per week, has improved the health of more than 50 women and the babies since it was introduced last year.

It provides a comprehensive ante-natal service for addicts while offering a full or partial in-patient detoxification programme.

The average length of stay on the neonatal unit has dropped from more than 21 days to 13.75 days in the last 12 months, she added.

The team - which includes drug liaison midwife Joanne Kirk, GP Dr Michael Ross, health visitor Kay Kenning, smoking cessation and parent education advisor Janet Spencer, phlebotomist and auxiliary Julia Baines and relief midwife Patricia Bell - has won £4,000 from Sovereign Health Care, the sponsors of the competition, which was open to all 3,500 staff who work at BRI and St Luke's hospital in Bradford.

The money will be spent on developing the service with the launch of occupational therapy, psychology services and new equipment.