HEALTH officials have confirmed the Jubilee Birth Centre will remain open for at least the next 12 months.
Its future was thrown into doubt after dozens of closures last year due to staff sickness.
Now, Phil Morley, chief executive at Hull And East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Cottingham centre, has confirmed the centre will continue to operate for at least the next year while a decision over its long-term future is made.
This is good news for mothers across Hull and the East Riding who want a natural, midwifery- led birth.
The Jubilee Birth Centre is the region's only natural birth centre and is treasured by many.
The strength of feeling among mothers and supporters is evident after they organised meetings, set up a supporters' group and signed online petitions against any potential closure.
But while the latest move is good news, it is by no means a long-term solution.
Mr Morley and the trust board will have to look at the loss the unit – and the maternity service as a whole – is running at.
This comes at a time when the trust is faced with saving �95 million over the next five years.
Although Mr Morley said he recognises the importance of midwifery-led services, he said the service cannot continue to run in the current way and changes have to be made.
It will be up to the trust board to decide the way forward after consultation with staff, mothers and the wider public.
Mr Morley promised to meet with staff and mothers over the future of the centre and he has done that.
Mothers have stayed true to their word by doing all they can to raise awareness of the centre and show how much the unit means to them. For the next 12 months, at least, Mr Morley said the centre is safe.
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