New hospital home for IVF clinic

Since 1997 more than 500 babies have been born to people treated at the unit

The fertility unit at a Tyneside hospital is set to move from the maternity department to a larger, purpose-built home.

From Monday, the Centre for Assisted Reproduction at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead will be based in the Jubilee Wing.

It will also be changing its name to Gateshead Fertility Unit.

More than 500 babies have been born to people receiving treatment at the centre since it opened in 1997.

Sister Katie Best, from the IVF team, said: "IVF can be an emotional experience for people exploring or undergoing treatment so we felt it was more appropriate to be located away from the maternity unit.

"We will be welcoming our first patients from 12 January onwards and we hope our new home will be even more successful than our current base."