A brand new birthing centre has been opened following the demolition of a hospital's maternity unit. The relocated freestanding Chorley Birth Centre within the Chorley and South Ribble Hospital site opened on Monday, and has become one of four place of birth options offered to all women booked within the Trust’s care. The new centre offers active birthing equipment and birthing pools in each of the birth rooms in addition to clinical assessment/education areas for expectant mums in what's been described as an outstanding birth environment for women. Divisional midwifery and nursing director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Janet Cotton, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the new birthing centre is now complete.