Trust acts quickly to provide maternity services in Ludlow

Less than a week after it was confirmed that SaTH had temporarily suspended services at Ludlow Midwife-Led Unit (MLU) due to concerns about the structural condition of the building, the Trust has arranged for services to be transferred to the Stretton Ward at Ludlow Community Hospital.

Antenatal appointments, booking services and day appointments are being provided at the Stretton Ward with immediate effect, and it is planned that care for women giving birth and postnatal services will be available in the main Ludlow Community Hospital by early November.

Sarah Jamieson, Head of Midwifery at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “The decision to ‘stop the line’ and temporarily suspend services at Ludlow MLU was not taken lightly. It was absolutely the correct decision for the safety of mothers, babies and our staff.

“We remain committed to finding a local solution for local people as soon as this decision was made and I am delighted to confirm that we have already arranged for some services to be temporarily transferred to Stretton Ward at Ludlow Community Hospital, with plans to bring the birthing unit into the main Ludlow Community Hospital by early November.

“This provides a very good environment for women. We will have two labour rooms, a warm and comfortable space for day services, and for the first time in Ludlow an area where we can offer water births.”

Services at Ludlow MLU were temporarily suspended on Friday 14 October.

Sarah added: “As with all older buildings, we regularly monitor their structural integrity. As part of our routine maintenance, we identified serious concerns about the structure of the building. That, combined with the general age of the building, put us in a position where we felt we had to act immediately.

“Following the decision we requested a number of risk assessments to be conducted, including a structural survey, and the majority of those reports, including the structural survey, have now been completed and concluded that the building is not currently fit for use.

“We recognise the importance of providing a local service and that is why we have acted quickly to restore one. Staff have worked really hard to make this happen and I congratulate their efforts.

“I would also like to apologise for any disruption caused over the past few days. Women due to attend Ludlow MLU in the next few weeks have been notified of the changes and of all their options for birth and the important telephone numbers they may require.”

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has welcomed news, Mr Dunne said: “I am very pleased that a solution has been found quickly so that the Midwife Led Unit at Ludlow Hospital will continue to operate from Stretton Ward, including antenatal, booking services and day appointments available immediately, and planned care for women giving birth and postnatal services available by early November.

"Naturally, when I discovered last week that midwifery had been suspended at Ludlow Hospital I raised my concerns with SaTH, who have responsibility for delivering the MLU services. We spoke about alternatives to allow midwifery services to resume, including use of the Stretton Ward, and I congratulate the Trust and its Chief Executive Simon Wright for taking rapid action to resume local maternity services for patients as quickly as possible.”