Cheltenham could soon see a return of births taking place in its own spa town with the planned reopening of the Aveta Birth Centre at Cheltenham General Hospital. The unit was temporarily closed in April 2022 due to safety concerns, leaving many local mothers without the option to give birth near home for more than four years—a situation that has caused significant frustration across the community.
Now, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is actively working to safely reopen the birth centre and reinstate home birth services later this year. This development has been warmly welcomed by Cheltenham’s Liberal Democrat MP, Max Wilkinson, who has tirelessly campaigned for the unit’s reopening and even raised the issue directly during Prime Minister’s Questions.
“The prospect of hearing good news soon about the Aveta Birth Centre brings hope to expectant parents in Cheltenham,” said Wilkinson. “For more than four years, mums in our town have been deprived of the choice to deliver at their local hospital — a choice that must be restored. Since my election, I have committed to fighting for the return of our maternity services. I worked alongside the NHS, local councillors, and our community to make a strong case, and took the matter all the way to the Prime Minister. I’m hopeful we will soon receive final confirmation and a detailed plan for reopening. Until then, I remain vigilant.”
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Hospital officials confirm that reopening plans are progressing well, with an aim to restore home birth services by autumn as well. A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust stated: “We understand that the temporary closure of the Cheltenham Birth Centre has reduced options for families. We are working diligently to reopen Cheltenham safely, alongside reintroducing home birth services later this year, pending ongoing preparations. While positive steps have been made, further work is needed to ensure the right staffing, training, and systems are fully in place. Our top priority continues to be the safety and wellbeing of women, babies, and staff as we strive to restore these essential services across Gloucestershire.”