The migrant baby boom came to light as it emerged that nationally the NHS bill for providing maternity services for foreign-born mothers has rocketed to £350 million a year.

As an "immigration hotspot", Peterborough maternity services had to cope with steadily rising numbers of migrant mothers from three in 2000 to 200 in 2006, and figures for 2007, when many more families came to the city in search of a better life, are expected to be higher.

Special Report: The future of Peterborough: Immigration in the city
The ET spotlights some of the key issues facing Peterborough as the city plans for the future.
-----------------------

Today, city MP Stewart Jackson said Peterborough was paying the price for the Government's "unfettered" immigration policy.

He said: "This reflects what I have been saying for a number of years. Public services are under enormous strain. The Government hasn't funded Peterborough in order to cope.

"I understand young women will have babies, but we do need appropriate resources and fully trained midwives.

"Although the hospital denied there were some concerns about the quality of care in maternity, this massive increase in live births must have, in part, contributed."

He called for an audit on delivery of public services in "immigration hotspots" such as Peterborough and appropriate funding.

He added: "The door has been open since 2004 and we are seeing the consequences. It's not fair on Peterborough."

The news comes in the wake of last week's publication of a wide-ranging review of maternity services – which ruled that Peterborough's unit was falling short in some key areas.

The Healthcare Commission watchdog rated the city's service the second highest grade of "better performing", but scores for homeliness and safety culture were poor.

Today, general manager for woman and child at the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Mandy Renton said: "Peterborough is a growing city and staffing levels and bed numbers at the trust are responding accordingly. We plan to open an additional 10 beds early this year, and are recruiting more staff.

"The maternity unit is busy and we know there are always things that can be improved, but it is a high-performing service and has never closed its doors to patients."

The unit delivers about 3,800 babies each year.

Today, Cat Chiva, head of the Polish Women's Association in the city, who has a two-year-old daughter, said: "I know some women do tend to go back to Poland to give birth because of the communication issue. But I had my daughter in Peterborough and the experience was beautiful. If there was a strain on the service, I couldn't tell."