Two special young guests are set to officially open Inverclyde Royal Hospital's refurbished £300,000 Community Maternity Unit (CMU), where they both started life.

Erin O’Rourke (6), a pupil at St Ninian’s Primary School in Greenock, was the first baby born at the unit, and she will join Anna Murray (4), another CMU baby, to unveil a plaque commemorating the new-look facility.

The Murray family have another close link with the unit - Anna’s mum Julie Murray is one of the midwives.

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As part of the refurbishment, a £40,000 birthing pool has been installed, together with a £25,000 ultrasound suite.

Andrew Robertson, Chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, who will co-open the CMU with Erin and Anna, said: "I'm delighted that Anna is able to return to the CMU and take part in the opening. The CMU is run by a team of highly skilled and experienced midwives and offers women and their families a homely and relaxed environment in which to deliver their babies.

"In fact, the unit has already celebrated two landmarks. In July, the birthing pool was 'christened' by its first birth and last month staff were celebrating the unit's 100th delivery."

The birthing pool was one of the first pieces of equipment to be installed as part of the refurbishment, which also offers ante and post-natal services such as clinics, ultrasound scanning, and early pregnancy services.

(GK/KMcA)