MEMBERS of a local women's society have made a heartfelt contribution to a hospital's maternity unit.

This week the Inner Wheel Club of Ulverston visited the maternity wing of Furness General Hospital.

With them they brought specially made 'bonding squares' for use on the ward.

Margaret Taylor, club correspondent, sayd: "The squares, each one measuring 7", are used to help bonding between mother and the premature baby.

"The squares are in pairs, one of which is placed next to the mother's body and the second is for the baby to lie on. These are changed over daily, the idea being in order for mother to smell the baby and the baby to smell the mother thus helping progress for both baby and mother."

During their visit members of the club were given a tour of the facilities, learning about the huge variety of care pathways open to expectant mothers.

Mrs Taylor added: "We were welcomed by unit manager Helen Wallace who gave a brief explanation of the new unit and the facilities.

We saw the four premature baby units and 15 labour suites. One of our members, Dot Johnson who is a retired midwife, had plenty of questions to ask comparing this unit to ones she had worked in many years go."