The Shropshire Smile Maternity Charity led by husband and wife team Bobbie and Eddie Brown, which supports the midwife-led maternity units in Shropshire, has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of these much needed resources.
As Bobbie explained to WW!, “We were told about proposals to turn the units into birthing centres in December. This would mean that facilities would be closed overnight and any ladies who go into labour would have to give birth elsewhere. There is a possibility if this happens the units are at risk of closure – they work on a viability quota of 100 births per year and, of course, if the units are not open 24 hours this number will inevitably drop.”
Should this happen, the charity is concerned that the pre and postnatal care available to local mums would also be under threat. Bobbie has launched an online petition which has already attracted over 2,000 signatures and has been heartened by the response of the townsfolk as around 30 shops in Bridgnorth have paper versions of the petition to sign.
“In rural areas the support of local midwives, choices for mothers and 24 hour care is a key issue – one that I believe is worth fighting for. I’m hoping that following a meeting with Philip Dunne and an announcement in April we should be a bit clearer as to what the future holds for the units in Ludlow, Bridgnorth and Oswestry.”
