Late Jo Cox MP's family unveils new centre for 'low-risk birthing' in Dewsbury

Jo Cox's mum Jean, dad Gordon and sister Kim Leadbeater unveil the new Bronte Birth Centre at Dewsbury Hospital. Credit: Charlotte Graham/ Guzelian

The family of the late Jo Cox MP has unveiled a new £1.4million birthing unit that she was involved in before her death.

The former Batley and Spen MP, who died in June, took part in a ceremony to mark the start of construction of the Bronte Birth Centre at Dewsbury Hospital in November last year.

Mrs Cox was born on the Dewsbury Hospital site in 1974 in what was then Staincliffe Hospital.

Her mum Jean, dad Gordon and sister Kim Leadbeater attended today's ceremony to mark the opening of the now complete midwife-led unit and unveil a plaque in her honour.

Jo Cox (second left) pictured at the site last year with Kevin Oxley, Gill Pownall and Caitlin Wilson from Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Credit: Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

The Bronte Birth Centre offers a safe place for low-risk birthing, when pregnant women are unlikely to need medical intervention. So far 20 babies have been delivered there.

More complex births now happen at a centralised consultant-led maternity unit at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.