AN AGONISED mother close to giving birth was told to call another hospital because her booked place at Ronkswood Hospital had gone.

Shell-shocked Victoria Preece was in great distress as she waited more than 20 minutes for the hospital to find her a place elsewhere after a midwife stated the maternity unit was closed.

To her horror the hospital called back and told her to ring New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton. Luckily, the hospital had a bed and her husband was on hand to drive.

Mrs Preece successfully gave birth to healthy baby girl Shannon at New Cross.

But she is still furious at her treatment by Ronkswood and is demanding an explanation.

And she fears other Wyre Forest mothers will face a similar nightmare at Ronkswood, especially when the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital goes through.

She said: "I am so angry at the way I was treated. I was booked in so they should have accepted me.

"Instead I was told to ring elsewhere. I was in a dreadful state and it was a good job my husband was there to help me.

"I just don't want other mothers to go through the same situation."

Mrs Preece, who was 37 weeks pregnant, was booked in to go to Ronkswood because she had an emergency caesarean.

Wyre Forest first-time mothers or those who have the slightest hint of complication go to Ronkswood.

Kidderminster currently has a seven-bed maternity ward which is feared will go after the county health shake-up because there will not be sufficient anaesthetists and gynaecologists to provide vital services.

Wyre Forest Health Concern councillor Rachel Lewis said: "This appears to be an example of the National Health Service failing people locally.

"I read Tony Blair's reports on health service improvements and welcome them but I think people here will be very bitter to see reforms elsewhere in the country and not in Wyre Forest.

"In Mrs Preece's case, baby safety should have come first. Fortunately it was a healthy birth."

A spokesman for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The Maternity Unit at Ronkswood Hospital was not closed on July 15 but it was unusually busy with 22 babies born compared to the average 10 in a day.

"Due to this, a decision was made for Victoria to be admitted to the maternity unit at New Cross Hospital so that she received appropriate care as quickly as possible.

"Staff at the hospital made the arrangements for admission and Victoria was only asked to call New Cross Hospital to confirm her time of arrival."

The spokesman added the trust had sent a formal apology to Mrs Preece stressing that it was an "exceptional" day which could not always be forecast by the maternity unit.