A birth centre in Salford is set to remain closed due to staffing pressures - after its doors were shut in January due to the strain of Covid. Hospital bosses announced the pause on 'all birthing activity' at the Ingleside Birth Centre in Salford earlier this year.
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the centre, said the 'regrettable' closure was due to pressures on services because of Covid-19.
The centre remains closed. with staffing pressures now a cause for concern. Pregnant women are being sent to Bolton.
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James Logue, divisional director of operations at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Ingleside Birth Centre remains closed due to midwifery staffing pressures and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
“We understand how disappointing this will be for some of our service users who had chosen to birth their babies at Ingleside and wish to reassure them that we will continue to support them to give birth at other options.
“The safety of our patients is our key priority so we will continue to support all women with safe births and discuss all their options in advance.
“We look forward to making an announcement on this soon.”
The trust was asked about the long term future of the birthing centre. Bosses did not respond to that query.
The centre opened in 2018 and manages all births in the city - following the closure of the maternity unit at Salford Royal Hospital in 2017.
Women identified as having a low-risk pregnancy - and who are not expected to require support from a doctor during birth - have been given the option to give birth at the freestanding midwifery unit, run by midwives from Bolton NHS Foundation.
The centre's temporary closure will mean that all pregnant women planning to give birth there will be offered alternative options.
Alternative options will be the Beehive Unit at Royal Bolton Hospital, which is usually recommended to pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies who are aiming for a natural birth.
The other option will be the Central Delivery Suite at Bolton Royal Hospital where care is led by an obstetrician and provided by a team of midwives.
Pregnant women who have experienced complications either during their current or in a previous pregnancy are recommended to birth their baby on this delivery suite.
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