A protest took place against the temporary closure of Crowborough Birth Centre.
The facility closed on October 2 and is set to remain that way for eight months. The NHS Trust which runs the facility has described the closure as "disappointing" and said it is due to staff shortages.
The demonstration was organised by MP Nus Ghani, Friends of Crowborough Hospital, and Councillor Natalie Whittle, and campaigners say that more than 3,000 people have signed a petition against the temporary closure.
Placards seen at the demonstration said: "give mums a choice!" and "keep births safe, keep births local."
Kay Moss, Chair of the Friends of Crowborough Hospital, said: "There was a brilliant turnout of over 250 people. Meetings are being held later this month with Nus Ghani and the [Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells] trust so we hope they listen to the voices of the many women who turned up in protest."
Moss said: "If Crowborough was used and supported properly, it would take the pressure off the unit at Pembury [Tunbridge Wells Hospital]. There are between 120 and 240 births there a year. That could even be doubled, which again, takes pressure off of the main hospitals. It's also much cheaper than home births, which is what the Maidstone trust is suggesting as an alternative. If there aren't enough midwives to keep a unit open, what's the guarantee that there'll be enough midwives available for home births?"
Speaking of the unit’s success, Moss said: "The independent body NHS Kent and Medway ICB said it's the only hospital that they haven't got any negative reviews from, which is exemplary. [NHS Kent and Medway ICB] are supporting the trustees with looking at why this decision has been made."
A spokesperson for the Kent and Maidstone trust has spoken of the mixed messages about the unit’s closing date.
"They closed it last week. So, women have still been turning up to give birth at the hospital and being turned away because they're not allowed to. These poor women who are wanting a choice, and a wonderful birth at their most vulnerable time, are then being taken to [Tunbridge Wells Hospital] for a birth in a highly clinical environment. It must be absolutely heart-breaking and incredibly stressful, when you have a birthing plan, and then that happens."
The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been approached for a comment regarding this, but has not yet responded.
One mother who attended the protest, and would like to remain anonymous, said: "I had my son at the end of May and I planned to have him here at the birthing unit as I had heard such wonderful things from the midwife. When my water broke, I called up and was told the unit had closed because of staffing problems at [Tunbridge Wells] Hospital. I’m lucky I was local to Pembury but it was much more medicalised and less of a community experience. I had a fantastic experience but it wasn't what I wanted, and it wasn’t nearly as relaxing or stress free [as Crowborough Birthing Centre]. If I have a second I definitely want it to be here."
Another attendee of the protest, who would like to remain anonymous, praised the aftercare at Crowborough Birthing Centre.
She described an experience of bringing her newborn son to the centre in the middle of the night to have her worries quickly resolved, rather than waiting in long Accident and Emergency queues.
She said: "I was seen immediately and all my fears were put at ease."
Another mother, who would like to remain anonymous, said she was "devastated" by the centre closing.
She said: "[Her last experience at Crowborough Hospital] Is everything I wanted for my second birth but unfortunately that choice has been taken away from me. We need this space, it is vital for mothers in the area and it’s such a safe and empowering place for women to give birth in."
A spokesperson for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has said: "Due to ongoing staffing shortages we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily pause births at Crowborough Birthing Centre from October 2 until May next year. Each month between 10 and 20 babies are born at Crowborough Birthing Centre and more than 400 babies are born at Maidstone Birth Centre and Tunbridge Wells Hospital. While we know this will be disappointing news for the people who are affected, our priority is to provide safe, high-quality and reliable maternity care for families and we are working with partners across Kent and Sussex to look at how we deliver a long-term, sustainable service. We remain committed to ensuring women and birthing people have choice and our services at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Maidstone Birth Centre, both of which offer high-quality midwifery-led care with access to birthing pools, reflect our dedication to personalised care which supports each person’s preferences."
The original article is available here.
