500 extra births to go to New Cross Hospital from Walsall Manor's failing maternity unit

Chiefs want to cut the number of births at the Manor after Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust was placed into special measures, after it was found 'inadequate' overall by a Care Quality Commission inspection in January.

There were 5,000 births at Walsall Manor last year. Inspectors found a number of 'serious problems' that needed 'significant improvement' such as maternity services and emergency care.

And now NHS Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group and Walsall Healthcare Trust are proposing to put in place measures which they say will ensure the safety and stability of maternity services at Walsall Manor.

The number of births will be reduced in the short to medium term, with the changes coming into effect from Monday.

Richard Kirby, chief executive at Walsall Healthcare Trust, said: "We have made improvements since the CQC review but we do not think that we can fully meet the standards expected of us in the short-term unless we can reduce activity .

"We want to ensure that every mother and baby gets the highest quality care and need to get the numbers closer to what the unit was originally meant to take."

A Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: "The trust's maternity service already provides for mothers from the Walsall area and will continue to provide a caring, healthy and positive birth experience." The hospital trust declined to comment on whether the move would put a strain on resources.

The changes will initially affect newly-expectant women. Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds added: "I will be asking the hospital how they are going to cope with the extra demand."