'Don't be a child here,' councillor warns

Stacey Harris said being a parent in Ludlow was a lot harder than it used to be

"Don't be a kid in Ludlow," a councillor has warned in response to local healthcare services.

Stacey Harris, a mother of three and Ludlow town councillor, said lack of provision meant mothers could not give birth in a midwife-led unit in the town, or get tests for newborns and older children.

Adding that families were having to travel to Shrewsbury or Telford for essential appointments, she said she had launched a survey on children's healthcare in Ludlow to gauge parents' experience.

The Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System (STW ICS) said it was committed to working to build on its community offer, in line with a government plan, moving more services from hospitals.

The midwife-led birthing unit at Ludlow Community Hospital shut in 2018, with the closure said to be a temporary measure. But it has not reopened, leaving Princess Royal Hospital, an acute site in Telford, as the only alternative for expectant mothers in Shropshire.

In 2019, the local NHS proposed a maternity hub plan but no birthing units at the county's rural hospitals.

Harris, who represents Labour on the local authority, is calling for more children's services to be based at Ludlow's hospital. She said the town was promised a new hospital in 2012 and an urgent care unit in 2015, but "neither has happened".

Her Children's Health Care in Ludlow survey is backed by Ludlow Health Campaign, which fights service cuts.

'Battle for parents'

Health visitors and school nurse numbers were down, with Ludlow "missing out" as a result, Harris said.

"It shouldn't be a battle for parents to get the care their children need.

"[Parents] shouldn't have to give up half a day for an appointment."

STW ICS said Telford provided birthing care and the option of homebirth was available.

It added families were going to Telford for a children's audiology service from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and it was expected to return to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital following construction work.

Health and care providers had worked to deliver new services and initiatives in and around Ludlow, STW ICS stated, including developing a community and family hub.

This included community health clinics, health visitor drop-in clinics and an early help team, providing advice with infant feeding and breastfeeding and special educational needs and disability.

There were also services commissioned by NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire Council, delivered across health, education, social care and the voluntary sector.

Shropshire Community Health trust provided services in people's homes, within schools and through clinics, including health visiting and school nursing, STW ICS said.