Hospital pauses baby deliveries

HEALTH chiefs have revealed a three-month “pause” in the delivery of babies at the University Hospital of Hartlepool has commenced.

- By NIC MARKO Local democracy reporter

The midwife-led maternity unit at the hospital - named the Rowan Suite became fully operational in November 2020, taking bookings for women considered to be “low risk.”

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust bosses explained the three-month pause in “intrapartum care” at the site which is the period from the start of labour until the delivery of the baby is due to “staffing absences.”

They stressed antenatal and postnatal care will “continue as normal” during the period, along with home births.