Fathers to stay on maternity ward in Bath hospital

Fathers of new babies will be able to stay overnight on postnatal wards at Bath's Royal United Hospital (RUH) as part of a pilot scheme.

The men can remain with their partners for the first night after the birth.

Noreen Hart, of the National Childbirth Trust said: "The pilot is only one of a handful in the country and is welcomed by all working in maternity services."

The "Partners Staying Overnight" project starts on 19 June and is run by Wiltshire Community Health Services.

Amanda Gell, clinical midwife manager at the Bath RUH, said: "The pilot responds to the needs of women who give birth, either at night or in the early hours of the morning, and want the support of their partners in the crucial period after labour.

"It also provides an extended opportunity for partners to bond with their babies as well as allowing partners to care for their loved ones."