Frome's birthing centre has closed for at least one week due to high numbers of midwives isolating with Covid-19. Mothers have also been told that the local home birthing service has also been suspended.
The Royal United Hospitals NHS Trust broke the news on its website and Facebook on Friday last week (April 1), adding that all maternity units run by the trust would remain open. The situation is due to be reviewed this week.
Chippenham's birthing centre also shut its doors on Friday due to staff sickness and will reopen "as soon as it is safe to do so". In the meantime, families can go to the Bath Birthing Centre, based at the RUH, reports Somerset Live.
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Sarah Merritt, the deputy chief nurse and director of midwifery said: "It is with regret that we have today taken the difficult decision to suspend community births and home births for a period of at least one week.
"Midwifery numbers are critically short due to COVID-19 sickness meaning that we are unable to safely staff all of our maternity services. In order to keep our mums, birthing people, babies and families safe we are focusing our resources on providing a safe service.
"We will review the situation early next week and reinstate community births and home births as soon as it is safe to do so. We would like to reassure you that our maternity units remain open. If you have any questions or concerns about yourself or your baby please don't hesitate to contact your midwife or local midwifery unit."
The Royal United Hospitals in Bath have seen a 64 per cent increase in the number of coronavirus patients needing hospital care since last week. You can read the full story here.
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