Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasised the importance of hearing and understanding mothers in Cheltenham, where the Aveta Birth Centre at Cheltenham General Hospital remains closed. The facility, which has not offered labour and birth services since 2022, faces a delayed reopening decision expected in spring.
Originally shut due to staffing shortages and safety concerns, the Aveta Birth Centre’s closure has persisted despite improvements in midwife staffing. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed the unit will stay closed until comprehensive reviews, including a national maternity investigation and a local health needs assessment, are complete.
Speaking in Parliament, Starmer highlighted the government’s priority to ensure every mother receives quality care and that their voices are heard. He stressed that any decisions about Cheltenham’s maternity services would consider the forthcoming review recommendations, promising ongoing communication with local representatives.
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Cheltenham’s Liberal Democrat MP, Max Wilkinson, raised concerns in the Commons, describing maternity services as “a vital part of women’s healthcare” and criticising the prolonged wait. He condemned the four-year closure as unacceptable and sought reassurance that the temporary shutdown would not become permanent.
The Gloucestershire NHS Foundation Trust reiterated its commitment to safety and quality care, stating that staffing and safety remain paramount. Although 25 full-time midwives have been recruited since the closure, the trust noted that additional obstetricians are needed. They also reported a decline in overall births but acknowledged an increase in the complexity of cases requiring medical intervention, such as caesarean sections.
Decisions on reopening the Aveta Birth Centre will only be made after the completion of the health needs assessment and the national maternity and neonatal review, ensuring that community safety and care standards remain the top priority.