AN online petition to assure mothers can give birth at the ‘new’ QE2 Hospital has been launched by a campaign group.

The website www.SayYesToMaternity.com will give surfers instant access to back the push behind making sure a midwife-led maternity unit will be put in place when the QE2 is redeveloped.

The overall aim is to make sure that YOUR vote will persuade the necessary doctors that such a facility is still needed at the WGC hospital.

Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps said: “The future of maternity at our QE2 Hospital rests with your GP.

“So don’t just hope that babies can continue to be born in Welwyn Hatfield, make it happen by contacting your own doctor and asking them to support the campaign to Say Yes To Maternity at the QE2.”

The website is simple by design.

All you have to do is fill in the form and then lobby your GP; it is that easy.

The housing minister added: “Please support the campaign, visit our new website and pledge your support. Once you’ve filled out the online pledge we’ll provide you with information about how to contact your GP to ask for their support for a midwife-led birthing unit.

“Time is running out for babies to be born in Welwyn Hatfield unless we can convince our doctors to back the maternity unit.”

? The launch of the site comes as members of the crusade spoke out of just how important the ward would be for the WGC hospital.

As a ‘Doula’ (a Greek word meaning “woman servant or caregiver”), Meghan Rice is someone who attends hundreds of births with mothers.

In her role she provides pre-birth, birth and postnatal care, and says that many of the mothers she deals with want their children to be born in the local hospital.

She added: “It’s important for mothers to have much choice as possible.

“Midwifes try to encourage a natural birth and interfere as little as they can so for me that is a really good option.

“They are the perfect people for a healthy birth, yet are equally adept for if things go wrong.”

WHT editor Terry Mitchinson said: “Over the coming weeks we will really be ramping things up.

“It is essential all our readers get behind this campaign so we can give mothers the choice they deserve.”