Report recommends permanent closure of birth centre

NHS bosses are recommending the permanent closure of a birth centre in Leicestershire after seeking the views of the public.

University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust halted deliveries at St Mary's Birth Centre in Melton Mowbray in July.

The trust said it was struggling to maintain safe staffing levels.

A report published on Thursday by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB) recommended approving the relocation of services to the midwifery-led unit at Leicester General Hospital.

In August, campaigners marched through Melton Mowbray to demand the return of services at the baby unit.

Challenges at the centre included difficulties in achieving "safe" staffing levels, with about 30% of the team "unavailable due to maternity leave, sickness, or planned absences", the trust previously said.

The ICB found that relocating the services would reduce variation in care for all women.

However, it also found it could widen inequalities for those facing rural deprivation, see staff leave the service and increase the number of women opting for unassisted births - without a maternity healthcare professional in attendance - which could increase risks.

A summary of the report said births and inpatient postnatal care at St Mary's Birth Centre had been paused since July 2025 due to significant safety and workforce risks arising from very low birth numbers and the inability to maintain safe 24/7 midwifery cover.

"With only 92 births in 2024/25, less than 1% of all UHL births, the centre is operating below what is considered sustainable for a freestanding midwifery-led service," it stated.

Helen Cliff, founding member of Save St Mary's Birth Centre Campaign, said "We're devastated but not surprised."

She said a previous temporary closure of the centre had felt like "closure by the back door and, sadly, that's what it's proven to be".

"This is about where women feel safest and most comfortable to give birth and about choice," she added.

"There are a number of women who don't want to give birth in hospitals."

"We have got to protect that choice for women."

She added that the postnatal ward was "being lost in the discussion" around the birthing centre's future.

A spokesperson for the ICB said: "We understand how important this decision is for local families and for our NHS colleagues. We remain fully committed to open and transparent engagement with everyone affected by the pause in services at St Mary's.

"The feedback gathered through our conversations and recent engagement events has now been published alongside the papers going to the board on Thursday. The board will consider this feedback in full as it determines how best to enact the 2021 decision."

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