Coronavirus: Some mums diverted to Melton birth centre from Leicester hospitals

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust say certain facilities for women with low-risk pregnancies were no longer available at city hospitals.

A statement from the trust reads: “As part of our COVID-19 plans, we are making some changes to birthing options at our hospitals.

“The Meadows at Leicester General Hospital and The Orchard at Leicester Royal Infirmary and the respective birth pools, will no longer be available as a birthing option for low-risk pregnancies.

“The Delivery Suites at both sites will become the primary locations for births until further notice.

“Alternative options are available at St Mary’s Birth Centre, Melton Mowbray, or through the Home Birth Team.

“We apologise to all women who were planning to use the birth centres.”

Anyone with questions is asked to speak to their midwife or to get in touch with the trust.

St Mary’s Birth Centre is under threat of closure as part of plans to consolidate maternity services in Leicester with new builds and upgrading of exisiting facilities there.

But those proposals - which the government has already agreed to fund to the tune of £450million - have been put on hold while the NHS deals with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Detailed plans and a consultation exercise have been put back until the summer at the earliest.

In deciding to close the Melton birth centre, the trust has previously said this is because it is well down on the 500 births a year it requires to be cost-effective and that it is too far away for many mums in the county to use.