Stafford birthing unit to close from Monday
Mothers-to-be will temporarily not be able to give birth at County Hospital in Stafford due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Freestanding Birthing Unit (FMBU) at County Hospital and the Midwifery Home Birthing Service will close temporarily from Monday, with staff set to focus on maternity services at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
It comes after the midwifery-led birthing unit at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital in Lichfield closed on Thursday to help staff at hospitals in Derby and Burton.
The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the hospitals in Stoke and Stafford, said the latest decision was made as part of a planned strategy to help cope with the demands being faced as a result of Covid-19.
The temporary closure of the birthing unit and home service will help make the best use of maternity staff and provide a safe service at Royal Stoke, the trust added.
The last admission to the Stafford birthing unit will accepted at 8am on Sunday.
All women booked into the FMBU or for a home birth are being contacted and will be offered delivery at the Midwifery Birthing Centre at Royal Stoke.
Michelle Rhodes, UHNM chief nurse, said: “We have a duty to provide safe care to our patients – including our expectant families and this decision will help us achieve that.”
Krishna Kallianpur, interim executive chief nurse at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, said: “We are proud to offer different birthing options for women, however, our priority is to keep them and their babies safe.
“Bringing together our experienced midwifes in one place will mean we are able to offer a safe service to everyone.”
The community midwifery clinics for antenatal and postnatal appointments will continue to operate as normal from 8am-5pm.
All women who had planned to have their babies at Samuel Johnson are being contacted to discuss the other birthing options available to them.
