CAMPAIGNERS who want Trowbridge birthing unit to continue delivering babies have urged people to share their views in the last few days in the consultation on its future.


Supporters of the unit say midwives as well as parents will face harder and more expensive journeys if all births move to Bath RUH. Specialist equipment bought using money raised by the Trowbridge community will also be moved to other towns under the proposal.


Supporter Andy Milroy said: “The onus is constantly being put on the staff, they are seen as consumable and not valued.


“If local, more flexible working patterns are not available to a midwife she will find it easier to take a less demanding job even if it pays less, especially when the cost of travel to and from Bath Is factored in.

"I know of one qualified midwife in her 40s who currently prefers to work as a teaching assistant in a school, almost certainly because this job fits more easily with her child care. Forcing midwives to work at the Princess Anne Wing when they have already deliberately chosen to work in the less stressful working environment of a local community birthing unit is, ultimately counterproductive. It is not the way to recruit or retain such skilled workers” 

As employees of the RUH Bath NHS Foundation, all midwives can be told to work shifts at the hospital as well as the Trowbridge unit. Trowbridge saw most births of any community unit in Wiltshire since 2014, but the current planned shake-up in maternity services could see it only provide ante- and post-natal care.


Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group say teams will work from both Trowbridge and Bath so mothers have a better chance of knowing a midwife when giving birth.


But mums fear having ante-natal care in Trowbridge and giving birth in Bath could cause longer and more stressful labours. Theo White, of Hilperton, gave birth to two of her three children in Trowbridge. She launched a petition to keep the birthing centre open which has gained nearly 2500 signatures.

She said: “I knew what to expect as I had all my appointments there and was comfortable with the birthing rooms, but when you go somewhere you don’t know like Bath it is a natural reaction to feel worried and things can slow down. Going to Bath could mean longer births that could be more complicated.”


The maternity consultation closes on February 24: have your say at www.transformingmaternity.org.uk/