Restart of Hartlepool hospital births put back due to Covid-19 outbreak

The University Hospital of Hartlepool's birthing centre had been due to taking bookings of mums-to-be classed as low risk from April this year as part of improvement plans by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation.

Following the Covid-19 outbreak, that has now been moved to September.

But officials for the trust say they have been working for months to meet its pledge.

Julie Lane, the hospital trust's chief nurse and director of patient safety and quality, said: “North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to offering birthing services at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all areas of the Trust’s operations including plans to take bookings for low risk pregnancies.

“Operational recovery plans include taking bookings from September at Hartlepool as an option for birth for low risk mothers. Home births were reintroduced from Monday, June 15.

“The maternity team have been hard at work for months to make our commitment a reality.

“We will be publicising this service, including unveiling the birthing centre’s new name, in the coming weeks.”

Last year, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Audit and Governance Committee completed an investigation into providing high quality maternity services at the hospital.

It followed concerns about a huge drop in the number of town births after the birthing unit became midwife-led only instead of consultant led.

In 2018 the unit delivered just three babies.

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Residents will recall that the council’s Audit and Governance Committee called for the creation of a maternity hub in the town following an in-depth investigation into services and I am delighted the Trust is still fully supportive of that proposal.

“I can understand the Covid-19 pandemic will have had a huge influence on the Trust, but I am reassured to hear they will be in a position to take bookings from September for low risk pregnancies.”

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