Shropshire maternity crisis is ‘why unit is needed’
The current maternity crisis in Shropshire proves that the birthing unit at Oswestry must be reopened permanently, campaigners insisted this week.
The ward, housed at Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital, is due to reopen on January 1 after being closed for six months.
However, its long-term future is uncertain. Consultation over a countywide review of maternity services – which recommends only having births at the Royal Shrewsbury or Princess Royal hospitals or at home – is due to begin in the new year.
Campaigners say it is ‘ridiculous’ that the birthing unit for Oswestry did not open its doors when the Shrewsbury maternity unit shut last week because of structural problems.
Liz Grayston from the Save Oswestry Maternity Unit campaign urged mothers-to-be not only to book in to have their babies delivered in Oswestry from January 1 but to make use of the inpatient, post natal care.
This can be used by mothers who not only give birth in Oswestry but also in the consultant unit in Telford.
Mrs Grayston said: “It is ridiculous that when Shrewsbury shut it doors health bosses did not immediately reopen Oswestry. The midwives who work there could have simply come up to Oswestry. It is a nonsense to have a unit like this shut.
“I would urge women who can give birth in Oswestry to do so from January 1 and also to use the inpatient, post natal care that Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust has agreed to provide.
“That service is at risk from a maternity review by the Clinical Commissioning Group.
“Women in this area must show how important the birthing and post natal inpatient unit is for Oswestry by using it.
“There are very worried mothers-to-be and their families who thought that they would have to, reluctantly, have their babies delivered in Shrewsbury who are now having to go to Telford between now and January 1.”
