Services at Oswestry Midwife-Led Unit (MLU) will be temporarily suspended from 8pm tonight (Wednesday 7 June) until 8am tomorrow (Thursday 8 June).

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

The suspension of services is due to staff sickness and activity affecting the Consultant-Led Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, meaning staff need to be redeployed to maintain safe staffing levels across the Maternity Service.

We are contacting any women who have chosen to deliver at Oswestry 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, sickness which has been affecting the Consultant-Led Unit at PRH over recent days is continuing and, as a result, we are temporarily suspending services at Oswestry MLU from 8pm tonight until 8am tomorrow in order to redeploy staff to where they are most needed. I would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

“We are contacting women who have chosen to deliver at 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 Oswestry MLU.”