A NEW midwifery antenatal clinic (MAC) officially opened at Cohuna District Hospital last Wednesday, providing important relationships between new mothers and midwives.

Local veteran doctor Peter Barker and midwifery unit manager Christine Trevena spoke at the event and cut the ribbon to officially open the service.

Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and shadow health minister Georgie Crozier also attended the event.

Mr Walsh presented the hospital its accreditation certificate from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).

The ACHS is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to improving the quality of health care in Australia through continual review and performance, assessment and accreditation, with a specific focus on safety, quality and performance.

The health service's chief executive officer, Ben Maw, said it followed a two-day accreditation survey onsite, on September 10 and 11.

"As a result, we received a strong response, closing 28 recommendations from the last survey three years ago with no recommendations for this year," he said.

"This is a process undertaken by all hospitals in Victoria, be it metro, regional or rural, to which we are all held to the same standard."

Mr Maw said women who attend antenatal appointments at the MAC clinic will be seen by one of the many midwives that work at the hospital.

"This will allow the women in our community to form relationships with our midwives and allow them to feel comfortable and at ease when they come in to hospital to have their baby," he said.

"This service will be provided at no cost to women and will work in conjunction with the GP obstetrician at Ochre Medical Centre."

Dr Baker, who has provided more than 35 years of service to the township, will continue to oversee all women who attend the clinic.