Cap on births revised after improvements at Walsall Manor Hospital
Restrictions on the number of women allowed to give birth at Walsall Manor Hospital have been eased.
A cap was introduced in 2016 to reduce the number of births at the hospital after inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found the unit “inadequate.”
It meant many women from the area had to go to other hospitals like New Cross in Wolverhampton to give birth instead.
But now following an improved Care Quality Commssion rating the trust can increase its birth rate to its capping level of 4,200 each year.
And as the birth rate over the last year had been just over 3,500, it can maintain the cap while bringing in new patients.
Low risk women who are already booked to deliver at another trust who would like to birth at the Manor Hospital can also request a transfer.
This had previously been restricted.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust divisional director of Midwifery, Gynaecology and Sexual Health Nicola Wenlock said: “By relaxing these restrictions we can now offer women a greater choice while maintaining the cap at 4,200 and ensuring the provision of safe, high quality care.”
Clinical director Mr Fateh Ghazal added: “We will regularly review these arrangements and would encourage pregnant women who do want to give birth at Walsall Manor Hospital to ensure they book early with their GP or community midwife.”
The CQC carried out its latest inspection in February and is to publish its report soon.
The trust is also considering the re-opening of its Midwifery-Led Unit later this year.
