Fathers will be allowed to stay overnight on wards with their partners after the birth of their baby
The days when dads had to leave their partners and new babies at the end of hospital visiting hours will soon be over.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has revealed that fathers are to be given the opportunity to stay overnight on maternity wards following the birth of their babies.
In an online chat with netmums, the PM told users that the Government is planning to revamp maternity wards to make room for extra beds.
'We want to see services changed so that not just mums but dads can be given a bed if they need to stay in hospital overnight after the birth of their baby,' the Prime Minister said.
The plans are part of a five-year programme of the reform of children's services from birth to the age of five.
Under the reforms, the NHS constitution will also be re-written to give pregnant women a legal right to choose where they give birth, including the option of a home birth.
'Maternity services should definitely remain a priority for the NHS,' the Prime Minister said. 'We have almost doubled funding since 1997 and there's no doubt that our maternity services have got better over the last 10 years, but sometimes I think we haven't done enough to make sure they provide a really personal service for mums and dads.'
