EXPECTANT mums in Bromsgrove are celebrating after a nearby hospital received confirmation it will be given nearly half a million pounds to refurbish its maternity unit.

The Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch, is due to receive £492,000 for the face-lift, as part of a larger £100m. grant allocated nationally to improve maternity care.

The Alex received the biggest grant in Worcestershire, while Worcester's Ronkswood Hospital received £32,307 and Wyre Forest Primary Care Centre, in Kidderminster, got £7,875.

A Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust spokeswoman said: "The trust can now also begin detailed planning for improving the maternity services throughout the county for the benefit of patients."

She added that this would be including a refurbishment programme for the maternity unit at the Alexandra Hospital.

The hospital has also received a second bout of good news when Worcestershire County Council was awarded a cash boost of £713,000 to help combat bed-blocking.

The grant is to try and ease the problem of patient's delayed discharges from hospitals to social services care.

The spokeswoman added: "The trust welcomes the cash initiative and will continue to work with all parties concerned to ensure patients who have completed their treatment are discharged into appropriate care as soon as possible."

She said that this would in turn make hospital beds available for patients requiring medical treatment.