MP Nick Palmer says medical knowledge has improved 'greatly'

The Trent Regional Cleft Centre, at Nottingham City Hospital, features an audiology and speech laboratory and a speech therapy treatment room.

Previously diagnosis and treatment has been in several places, which has created problems for medical staff.

Health chiefs said about 100 babies were born with a cleft lip or palate in the Trent region every year.

Better co-ordination

Vanessa Martin, associate clinical director for the cleft lip and palate service, said: "It is very exciting to have our own centre at last.

The whole staffing set up and coordination of care is much better Mark Henley, plastic surgeon

"We have previously been sharing facilities with other teams and working in quite restricted areas so it is wonderful to have such a pleasant clinic environment to see our patients in."

Plastic surgeon Mark Henley said: "Cleft care in the UK used to be very spread out with doctors doing one to five cases a year but we are doing 90 cases a year between two surgeons."

"The whole staffing set up and coordination of care is much better."

Broxtowe MP Nick Palmer, who had a cleft palate operation at one year old, said: "Medical knowledge has advanced greatly ... and it is possible to have a good life with a cleft palate."

A new group, the Trent Cleft Lip and Palate Association group, has been launched to coincide with the centre's opening.