Nursing shortage means Alexandra Maternity Unit remains closed

Bosses at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch say they still haven't got enough specialist nurses to reopen the maternity ward after it closed temporarily in November.

It comes on the same day the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's Chairman announced he was stepping down from his position.

ITV News Central's Heath Correspondent Stacey Foster has been granted exclusive access to the Maternity Unit at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, two months after staff from the birth centre at in Redditch relocated due to a staffing shortage.

Their Interim Divisional Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Faye Baillie says they are still struggling to source specialist neo-natal nurses for complicated births.

The maternity ward at The Alexandra Hospital was closed down on 5th November because the trust which runs the hospital didn't have enough nurses to care for the most critical babies.

More than 7000 people have signed a petition calling on the Government to stop maternity services moving permanently and campaigners have held demos.

However, some new mothers, like Leah Banner, claim the move to Worcester did not affect her birth plans.

She was due to give birth at the Alexandra in Reddich, but was transferred to the Royal Worcestershire after the decision to move the maternity unit.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust was placed in special measures in December last year after being rated as 'inadequate'.