Births may stop at three rural units under maternity service shake-up in Shropshire
Maternity services in Shropshire could be overhauled under proposals put forward by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups.
Under the plans women would have the option of giving birth at a midwife-led maternity unit in Shrewsbury, Princess Royal Hospital in Telford or at home.
A number of maternity hubs could be created to support women before and after birth.
The system in Shropshire has come under scrutiny in recent months after Shropshire and Telford Hospital’s NHS Trust took the decision to temporarily close the Midwife Led Units (MLUs) in Oswestry, Ludlow and Bridgnorth due to staffing issues.
Following a comprehensive recruitment drive and the appointment of up to 20 midwives these MLUs will reopen on January 1.
The CCGs propose that there be at least one maternity hub in Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Telford and they would offer a broad range of services from antenatal and postnatal care from a midwife, scanning, foetal monitoring as well as support with emotional wellbeing and healthy lifestyle services.
Shropshire CCG said: “In the proposed model, women would be able to give birth at the consultant-led unit at the Princess Royal Hospital and at the alongside midwife-led unit, which is also on the hospital site, as well as a freestanding midwife-led unit in Shrewsbury and at home.”
As part of the CCG review, interviews were carried out with staff and pregnant women and new mothers.
Taking on board the findings, the CCGs have put together a proposal for the new model of midwifery-led care.
There would also be improvements for staff working in maternity services.
The proposed model will be presented to Shropshire CCG’s governing body later this month and to the Telford CCG governing body in January.
It is then intended to go out to consultation.
