Oswestry maternity unit temporarily closed due to staff sickness

The midwife-led unit will be temporarily closed from 8pm until 8am tomorrow.

Health bosses say it is due to on-going short-term staff sickness affecting the midwifery service.

Yesterday Bridgnorth maternity unit was forced to temporarily close due to staff sickness.

Women booked to give birth at Oswestry, who go into labour during the temporary suspension of services, will be offered a birth at another midwife-led unit or the consultant-led unit at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.

Women will be able to access a midwife.

Sarah Jamieson, head of midwifery at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs the midwife-led unit, said: “Unfortunately, we are still seeing the impact of staff sickness on our service and because of this we will unfortunately be temporarily suspending services at Oswestry midwife-led unit between 8pm today and 8am tomorrow.

“Women who have chosen to deliver at Oswestry and who are due to give birth in the near future are being contacted to inform them and offer an alternative location to give birth if they go into labour whilst services are suspended.

“These circumstances are beyond our control, but I would like to apologise for any inconvenience this temporary suspension may cause.”