Our Midwifery-Led Unit (MLU) will be closed for births from today (Thursday 19 March) in the midst of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) demands on maternity services staff.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust has not taken this decision lightly but wants to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the women and families who use its services as well as its own staff.

Interim Divisional Director of Midwifery, Gynaecology and Sexual Health for the trust Carla Jones-Charles said: “We appreciate this is extremely disappointing to the women who wanted to give birth at the unit and we can only apologise to them.

“But this is a fast-moving and ever-changing situation and we have to continually review arrangements and make decisions that are in the best interests of the women and families we support. We will continue to update women and their families as the situation changes both nationally and within the trust.

“We sent out a message last night to appear across social media as we are trying to share updates as quickly and widely as possible and give women as much notice as possible of any changes. Today we will, of course, be contacting those affected to reassure them and have detailed discussions about their next steps as we know this news will have come as a surprise and has disappointed many. Women will still be able to give birth at Walsall Manor Hospital in our main unit and use our low risk facilities.

“Please accept out sincerest apologies for the disappointment caused by this news.”

The MLU’s other services will also continue to run, which include the day 5 heel prick clinic.”

The MLU can be contacted via 01922 721172 extension 5422, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.