Huddersfield Royal Infirmary closes birth centre until further notice

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary has closed its birth centre until further notice.

Pregnant mothers are being warned to ring the hospital in advance if they are in labour, but they are likely to be told to head to to Calderdale Royal Infirmary or even to give birth at home.

Health bosses are blaming it on the huge pressure on hospital beds and that it has nothing to with staffing levels.

They say they have plans in place and midwives on site for patients who may go into early labour.

The Birth Centre at the site opened ten years ago and a midwife-led approach to childbirth, with some rooms fitted with birthing pools.