Three birthing centres to close

The new birth centre at Ashurst will be midwife-led

Three birthing centres in Hampshire will be closed and replaced by a larger centralised unit.

The centres at Hythe, Lymington and Romsey are to be replaced by a larger 12-bed unit at Snowdon House, Ashurst.

The decision, taken by Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust (SUHT) on Tuesday, follows a two-month public consultation process.

It comes despite widespread protests and petitions organised in a campaign to keep all three facilities.

Mark Hackett, the trust's chief executive, said: "Rather than having several birth centres standing half empty, we will have a thriving centre of excellence offering a better service for local women as well as more job satisfaction for our staff."

How can losing seven beds make things safer when we have a rising birth rate? Helen Dennett Lymington Birth Centre support group

All three centres saw an increase in the number of births for the period 2000 to 2004.

But the trust claimed the centres were operating below full capacity and the decision will reduce the number of beds available by seven.

Helen Dennett, chairperson of the Lymington Birth Centre support group, said they were "very disappointed".

She added: "All birthing centres are fantastic but the presentation by SUHT made it sound that if this decision was not taken it would be dangerous to have births in the area.

"How can losing seven beds make things safer when we have a rising birth rate?"

Belinda Phipps, of the pregnancy, birth and parenting charity, the National Childbirth Trust, told BBC News: "It's very sad indeed that we're closing birthing centres and going against government policy.

"We should be opening birthing centres, rather than shutting them."

'Safe and modern'

The new birth centre at Ashurst will be midwife-led, with no doctors on site.

It will not offer an epidural service, but it will have a birthing pool, massage, gas and air and other pain relief methods.

Women or babies who need to see a doctor, or if the birth is not progressing as expected, will be transferred to the Princess Anne Hospital, in Southampton, by ambulance.

Karen Baker, director of operations for women's and children's services, added: "This decision ensures local women still have the choice of having their baby at a stand-alone birth centre, but one which is safe, modern and high quality."

The date of the closures will be discussed at the Hampshire County Council health overview and scrutiny committee next Tuesday.