A new training programme will enable more mums to give birth at home and cut the number who need caesarians.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn is one of 136 NHS trusts to receive a share of the £8m Health Education England (HEE) maternity safety training fund.

It says the £71,713 grant it is getting will be used to provide courses to support multi-disciplinary team working, leadership and managing obstetric emergencies in the community.

Head of women and children's services Lesley Deacon says the additional training courses are going to enhance maternity care.

She said: 'We are delighted to have been awarded this investment in maternity services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

'Our midwives and doctors are already highly trained but this programme is going to further enhance the vast knowledge within the department and support the multi-disciplinary team working.'

HEE director of nursing Lisa Bayliss-Pratt said: 'The response from service providers and partners in applying to make maternity services safer through education and training has been excellent, as well as the response from training providers to meet demand for course places.

'I am delighted that all NHS maternity trusts have been awarded an allocation from the fund to progress their training and safety improvements, helping to make maternity services safer for mothers and babies, and enhance their care experience.'

Training programmes are due to be completed by March 2018 and the HEE will commission an independent evaluation to assess how NHS trusts have improved quality and safety and the wider impact for mothers and babies, families, and the maternity workforce.

QEH director of nursing Emma Hardwick said: 'We are really pleased to have been selected to receive this funding. Any investment in the development of our staff is always money well spent for both the trust and our patients. We work together as a team to deliver quality care for our patients through partnership.'

The hospital has recently relaunched its home birth service. Its team of 43 community midwives covers a West Norfolk, Fenland, South Lincolnshire and Suffolk.