HOSPITALS in Worcestershire are celebrating after landing a windfall of more than £500,000 to improve maternity facilities across the county.

The extra cash, announced by Health Minister Jacqui Smith, has come from a £100m Government allocation.

The cash boost is the largest-ever investment to improve maternity care in hospitals across Britain.

It will help ensure all women have high-quality maternity services and are able to make choices about maternity care and childbirth.

"We're pleased with the response to the bids we put in," said Janet-Marie Clark, spokeswoman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

"We can now begin detailed planning for improving the maternity services throughout the county for the benefit of patients.

"Improved maternity services are already planned in Worcester at the new hospital.

"There will be a refurbishment programme for the maternity unit at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, and additional equipment for Wyre Forest Birthing Centre at Kidderminster Hospital."

The cash will be spent on improving and modernising maternity units at the Ronkswood branch of Worcester Royal Infirmary, which is due to have £32,307, the Alex, which is to benefit by £492,000, and Kidderminster General, where services will receive £7,875.

The money help recruit 2,000 more midwives nationwide over the next three years so that a new ''gold standard'' of one-to-one care while women are in labour is implemented.

Midwives returning to work in the NHS will receive a one-off incentive payment of £1,500, expenses for travelling and books, and childcare costs of up to £150 a week.

"We've been speaking to pregnant women, parents, doctors and midwives to find out how they would like the extra money to be spent," said Ms Smith, MP for Redditch.

"This money will allow units to improve their services, as well as paying for other improvements identified by parents, service users and staff."