Shropshire's rural maternity units to re-open in the new year

As of January 1, women will once again be able to give birth in Oswestry, Ludlow and Bridgnorth Midwife Led Units (MLU).

Sarah Jamieson, head of midwifery at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), revealed at a meeting with campaigners on Thursday that the services will return unaffected.

The units closed back in July over concerns about staffing levels at the county's main consultant-led maternity unit at Princess Royal Hospital Telford.

Liz Grayston, a mother-of-four who is leading the Save Oswestry MLU campaign, said it is now vital woman start using the service or face losing it again.

"It's awesome news but we have to have an element of reality because the risk is still there," she said. "They have recruited more midwives but there is still a shortfall and there is still a review going on.

"I just want to encourage as many women as possible to change their booking and deliver in their rural unit. It's important to fill as many beds as possible to put pressure on the situation."

Mothers who deliver at the consultant-led unit in Telford will also be able to transfer back to their local unit for post-natal care.

A review on the future of the midwife led units is currently being undertaken by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group and an outcome is expected shortly.

"It is part of SaTH's promise that the post-natal care service will still be there in January," Mrs Grayston added. "But this is where the review decision comes into play so women also need to use that service to recover, get help with breastfeeding and things like that. If it's not used it plays into their hands.

"Sarah Jamieson seemed quite positive and said she is preparing the staff rota at the moment. It's great news so I'm going to take the little victory - but there is still a war to be won."

Last month Deirdre Fowler, director of nursing, midwifery and quality, said that progress had been made in recruiting more staff with around 20 new midwives in the process of joining the trust.

However, she said that despite the success in recruitment another 17 midwives are still required.