Protest against permanent closure of birthing unit

Lichfield residents took part in a pram push on Saturday to "give mums a choice"

Residents from Lichfield took part in a walking protest to oppose the permanent closure of a maternity unit in Staffordshire.

Campaigners said that "mothers need a real choice" and closing the birthing unit at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital for good would take away options for local families.

Families took part in a pram push on Saturday after a public consultation was launched by the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) last month.

The freestanding midwife-led birthing units (FMBUs) at Samuel Johnson and County Hospital in Stafford were temporarily stopped due to the pandemic - the body is gathering views on whether they should reopen.

Pregnant mothers have still been able to attend the hospitals for antenatal and postnatal appointments but have been unable to give birth at the units.

While many have been waiting for the midwife-led services to resume, the ICB said the viability of the units was being questioned.

Local residents, families who had used the maternity units in the past and pregnant mothers all gathered in the pouring rain in protest as they walked from Lichfield guildhall to Samuel Johnson.

Hannah Weaver, who gave birth at the Lichfield unit before the pandemic, told the BBC her experience there was "empowering".

She said: "I had an extremely positive and extremely empowering experience [at Samuel Johnson].

"I think it's important women have a choice about where they want to give birth, and that choice is being taken away from the residents of Lichfield.

"The pram push is to show people we are against the proposal for closure and that we really make sure we keep safe births in Lichfield where there's choice.

"That's the main thing - maternity choice."

If services at the facility do not resume, the closest birthing unit for expectant mothers in Lichfield is at Queen's Hospital, in Burton.

Campaigners said that if the unit did not reopen, pregnant mums in Lichfield would need to drive to Queen's Hospital in Burton.

Speaking on the original decision to close the services, the ICB said it was made to ensure there was enough staff for the maternity departments at Royal Stoke University Hospital and Queen's Hospital in Burton-upon-Trent.

Heather Johnstone, chief nursing and therapies officer, told the BBC if services were to resume, the midwives staffing the units would be taken away from the county's busiest hospitals.

She said: "The units have been shut for five years, so the most recent data we have is from 2020.

"There were around 18 births a month, so 220 births a year. It requires a lot of midwifery staffing to safely staff that unit.

"It's taking those midwives away from facilities where they could be providing care to a broader range of people."

The public consultation will run until 3 August and people have been urged to share their views on the ICB's website.

Birthing facilities at Samuel Johnson were paused due to a shortage of midwives during the pandemic