Birth centre shuts so health chiefs can speed up Covid jabs
WOMEN in the Valley who planned to have their baby delivered at Rossendale Birth Centre have been told they will need to go to other units.
NHS East Lancashire CCG has confirmed births at the unit, based at Rossendale Primary Health Care Centre, Rawtenstall, are being ‘temporarily suspended’ to allow more space to deliver the coronavirus vaccination programme in the borough.
Health bosses said this will ensure more Rossendale residents who are prioritised as part of the national programme can be vaccinated quicker.
Births at Rossendale Birth Centre will be suspended for nearly 12 weeks until the end of March.
“The situation will be reviewed every two weeks to address any concerns and make any necessary changes to support both the vaccination programme and maternity services, the CCG said.
Dr Abdul Mannan, Clinical Director of Rossendale Primary Care Network, said: “We were required to identify a hub to vaccinate the residents of Rossendale in line with national guidance for the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccination.
“We explored a number of venues across the Rossendale area but unfortunately there wasn’t the ready-made perfect venue where both the number of rooms and suitability to provide a one-way system and safe distancing measures could be in place.
“The most practical solution we found was to base this from Rossendale Primary Health Care Centre in Rawtenstall but even then due to the complexities of delivering the vaccination, it has been necessary to have a number of rooms adapted.”
Expectant mums have been told there remains a ‘number of choices’ for place of birth, including homebirth, Blackburn Birth Centre, Burnley Birth Centre (located next to Central Birth Suite at Lancashire Women’s and Newborn Centre, Burnley General Hospital), and Central Birth Suite which is located at Lancashire Women’s and Newborn Centre and is an obstetric led unit mainly providing care for high risk pregnancies.
Antenatal clinics in Rossendale will continue to run as normal from Rossendale Primary Health Care Centre Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and patients will be directed on site.