26 May 2017

Services at Bridgnorth and Oswestry Midwife-Led Units (MLUs) will be temporarily suspended from 8pm tonight (26 May 2017) until 8am on Tuesday (30 May 2017).

Women booked to give birth at Bridgnorth or Oswestry MLU 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 Bridgnorth or Oswestry MLU require support during this time they will be able to access a Midwife as usual.

Community antenatal and postnatal appointments will continue as planned at Oswestry and Bridgnorth MLU tomorrow (Saturday 27 May 2017) and Sunday (28 May 2017) during daytime hours. Bridgnorth and Oswestry MLU are expected to be open as normal from 8am on Tuesday (30 May 2017).

The suspension of services is due to ongoing staff sickness affecting the Consultant-Led Unit and Wrekin MLU at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, meaning staff need to be redeployed.

We are contacting any women who have chosen to deliver at Oswestry or Bridgnorth MLU 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 The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), said: “Unfortunately due to ongoing staff sickness we will be temporarily suspending services at Bridgnorth and Oswestry MLU from 8pm tonight until 8am on Tuesday.

“We are contacting women who have chosen to deliver at Bridgnorth and Oswestry 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 Bridgnorth and Oswestry MLUs.

“Community antenatal and postnatal appointments in Bridgnorth and Oswestry will still take place as planned during the day tomorrow (Saturday 27 May 2017) and Sunday (28 May 2017) and women are being contacted about the arrangements for these.

“This temporary suspension of services is purely due to staff sickness and I would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”