I SHARE the deep desire locally to see the Midwife Led Unit retained at Ludlow Hospital, and have had regular discussions with SaTH and Shropshire CCG to this effect.

Those who attended the Ludlow Health Forum I chaired in November will know that local NHS bosses made clear we need more births at Ludlow’s maternity unit than the average of one per week last year, in order for it to remain safe and to be able to recruit and retain quality committed midwives for the future.

The disappointing fact is that Ludlow’s birth rate at the Midwife Led Unit has fallen over the past five years, rather than risen. In 2011/12, 86 babies were born in Ludlow’s MLU, compared with 51 last year. Antenatal appointments have also fallen, from 3,293 in 2011/12, to 2,741 in 2015/16. But postnatal appointments have risen, from 776 five years ago to 1,111 last year.

The most important step is to encourage mums to have their babies here in Ludlow, if they are advised it is safe for them to do so. If you or your family have had a positive experience in Ludlow's maternity unit, I urge you to let other expectant mums know.

The positive news is that Shropshire CCG has committed the funding to allow SaTH to continue providing MLU services for the next two years, rather than a year-by-year basis as has been the case before. This should provide clear breathing space, while the CCG’s countywide review of maternity services takes place, to reverse the trend of a declining birth rate at Ludlow Hospital.

Staffing issues remain a concern, with overnight closures at the MLU in recent weeks caused by staffing shortages in Telford, and midwives from community hospitals needed to attend the busy consultant led unit. I am pressing SaTH to find permanent solutions to staffing pressures.

There is demonstrable public demand to see Midwife Led Units retained in our community hospitals. As Ludlow starts to get more houses built over the next two years and if more babies are delivered at Ludlow’s MLU, we will have a much stronger case for maintaining such treasured services.