Don’t miss the chance to have your say on birthing services

Includes video content

Health leaders are urging people to have their say in the final weeks of a consultation on the future of birthing services in Stafford and Lichfield.

Around 800 responses have so far been received to a survey held as part of the 12-week consultation into birthing services at Freestanding Midwife-Led Birthing Units.

A number of meetings, both face-to-face and online, have also been held, while community groups such as parent and toddler sessions, postnatal support groups and well-baby clinics have been approached directly.

Now NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) is calling for anyone who has not yet responded to the survey, which closes at midnight on Sunday 3 August 2025, to get in touch.

Postnatal and antenatal services will continue to be offered at the units at County Hospital, Stafford, and Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, Lichfield, but birthing services – temporarily paused in 2020 during the COVID pandemic – would  close permanently under the consultation proposal.

Heather Johnstone, a former midwife and NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB’s Chief Nursing and Therapies Officer, said: “There is no intention to close the units, which are used as bases for community midwives, and provide postnatal and antenatal appointments for women and families, as they have for the past five years.”

Midwife-led care is available at Royal Stoke University Hospital and at Queen’s Hospital, Burton – and will continue to be available, alongside consultant-led birthing services.

Heather added: “We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to fill in the survey, come to an event, or speak to our staff at the hospital sites or community groups.

“If you haven’t yet got in touch, you’ve got just under a month  to do so.

“We would appreciate hearing your thoughts and ideas so these can be carefully considered, as no final decisions have been made.”

You can hear Heather talk about the consultation here: 

You can complete the survey online, you can also complete an easy read version.

Download the consultation document, or read more about the proposal  on our dedicated web page.

If you have any questions, email : ssotics.comms@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk