MORE hospitals could be stripped of their consultant-led midwifery units under plans announced by the Government.

Dr Sheila Shribman, national clinical director for children, young people and maternity services, said the redesign of services would lead to greater choice and safer care for mothers and babies.

Many maternity services at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary will move to Halifax in a plan approved last year.

Transfers of maternity services have caused huge controversy, including among Labour ministers and MPs.

Labour Party chairman Hazel Blears, chief whip Jacqui Smith and health minister Ivan Lewis have all campaigned against cuts within their constituencies.

Dr Shribman said decisions on how services would be reconfigured would be made at a local level.

She insisted there was no national blueprint on how services would look.