Services at Ludlow and Oswestry Midwife-Led Units temporarily suspended

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust said it was due to continuing illness and staff shortages.

Services for women due to give birth, and postnatal care, have been suspended at Oswestry MLU until 8am on Tuesday, June 13, but day services for expectant mums will continue as normal. Services were suspended from 8pm on Thursday but at Ludlow will resume at 8pm on Friday.

The suspension of services is due to a shortage of staff in Oswestry for the rest of the week and a limited number of staff to cover the maternity service in the county over the weekend due to on-going staff sickness.

Services for women due to give birth, and postnatal care, are also being suspended at Ludlow MLU, but again day services for expectant mums will continue as normal.

Women booked to give birth at Oswestry and Ludlow MLUs who go into labour during the temporary suspension of services will be offered a birth at another MLU.

If any women due to give birth at Oswestry or Ludlow MLUs require support during this time they will be able to access a midwife.

SaTH said the issues with on-going staff sickness and activity affecting the consultant-led unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and staff shortage at Oswestry MLU, means staff need to be redeployed to maintain safe staffing levels across the maternity service.

It said it is contacting any women who have chosen to deliver at Oswestry or Ludlow MLUs and are likely to give birth in the near future to inform them and offer an alternative location to give birth if they go into labour during the temporary suspension of services.

Sarah Jamieson, head of midwifery at SaTH, said: "Our service is still being affected by sickness which has been impacting the consultant-led Unit at PRH over recent days. Unfortunately, this means that we are temporarily suspending services at Oswestry and Ludlow MLUs from 8pm tonight until 8am tomorrow. I would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

"We do not take these decisions lightly and they are made solely to ensure continued safe care for mums and babies.

"We are contacting women who have chosen to deliver at Oswestry or Ludlow and who are due to give birth in the near future to inform them and offer an alternative location to give birth if they go into labour whilst services are suspended at these units."