THE leader of Wiltshire Council says she is confident that Trowbridge Birthing Centre will fully reopen to expectant mothers in the area, following a meeting with the NHS Foundation Trust.
The birthing centre which serves Melksham has been closed since 15th July and has caused users of the centre and local councillors concern as to whether it will re-open later this month.
Wiltshire Council leader, cllr Jane Scott, recently held a meeting with Dr Stephen Rowlands, the chairman of the Clinical Commissioning Group and members of the health trust. According to health chiefs, the closure was due to staff shortages and staff at the Trowbridge maternity unit also being sent to cover the maternity unit at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. Cllr Scott said, “I’m satisfied that it was closed for safety reasons and they are confident that it will be fully open from September 30th. I challenged them on whether there are plans in place for further closures and they assured me that there are not.”
Since the maternity unit’s closure in July, the birthing centre has remained open for postnatal and antenatal care. However, mothers due to give birth from Melksham have had to go to either Chippenham or Bath, as the closest options.
In line with the re-opening of the unit, the health trust hopes to hire nine new midwives.
