Edward has met with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust's Chief Executive, Richard Mitchell, in Parliament following the Trust's announcement of its decision to temporarily close the St Mary's Birth Centre in Melton Mowbray to new births for six months from next week, and the understandable concern this has led to locally, among staff, and among mothers-to-be who had planned to give birth there in the coming months.
The Hospitals Trust has set out that due to staff rota absences in the coming months, it cannot provide the safe staffing levels needed, hence the temporary pause, and while appreciating that argument, when Edward met the Trust Chief Executive he was clear that this period must be used to come up with a clear plan to improve staffing levels and to better advertise St Mary’s Birth Centre to expectant mothers to increase usage. While the Hospitals Trust appears to remain firm in its decision, set out publicly in 2021 following a consultation, to close the Centre in the long-term when new facilities are built at Leicester General, Edward set out his clear view that this temporary closure must not be used for the Trust to simply plan for a temporary closure to morph into a permanent closure now.
Following the meeting, Edward said: "I’m grateful to the Chief Executive of UHL, Richard Mitchell for meeting me so swiftly, for listening, and for agreeing to consider my asks of him: to work up a plan to get staffing where it needs to be; to increase use of the centre; and to meet with those affected & ensure those already booked in to give birth there are listened to and supported. As Melton’s local MP I very much share local concerns, and fears locally that this temporary closure must not turn into a permanent one. I have been contacted by so many people who say what a positive experience they had at St Mary’s but that it was only by chance they knew it was an option. It’s a fantastic local service, with good inspection ratings, that could do so much more, as could Melton Hospital more widely. I will continue to work with local people, and the campaigners who for so long have championed the Birth Centre, to press for this important local service to be reopened as swiftly as possible."
