Birthing centre to reopen doors

Expectant mothers are to be allowed back through the doors of a birthing centre four months after its controversial closure.

The centre in Romsey, Hampshire, was temporarily closed in November as its midwives were drafted in to Southampton to deal with a local baby boom.

Hundreds of people signed a petition to have the four-bed centre kept open.

The centre is now to reopen after a refurbishment and a recruitment drive saw seven new midwives brought in.

When the closure was announced last year, 31 expectant women were offered the choice of a home delivery or giving birth in Southampton.

A number of other birthing centres have also been closed across the county, including the Blackbrook centre in Fareham which had to shut because of staff shortages.