Birth rates have fallen at the Oswestry unit

The high number of pregnancies at the ward in Oswestry means expectant mums needing hospital care will have to travel to either Wrexham, Powys or Shrewsbury.

Hospital bosses say they have tried to get cover for the maternity leave but failed because of a national shortage of trained nursing staff.

Now the maternity unit at Shropshire's Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital, in Oswestry, is closing for six months from 1 October.

A full community midwife service will still operate along with other day and ante-natal services.

'Difficult decision'

Concerns over clinical safety issues such as a lack of hot water in delivery rooms and the need to provide adequate cover at the county's only consultant maternity unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, has also led to the unit being shut.

Sue Breslin, maternity manager for the Maternity Service in Oswestry, said: "Difficult and unpopular as this decision is, the safety of mothers and their babies must come first.

"However, it is of paramount importance that mothers receive adequate care and midwife cover.

"Currently due to staff shortages, this is impossible to provide across all our inpatient services."

The GP unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital was also forced to close in July 2001 for 16 months because of staff shortages.

Oswestry's birth figures dropped significantly from 160 in 1998 to 91 births in 2002, a decrease of 43%.