ICB approves next steps for maternity services following pause at St Mary’s Birth Centre

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) has today approved the relocation of birth services from St Mary’s Birth Centre in Melton Mowbray to the midwife‑led unit at Leicester General Hospital (LGH), in line with the original 2021 decision on maternity services.

The decision follows a review of safety, staffing, activity and equality considerations, and engagement with women, families, midwives and students affected by the temporary pause introduced in July 2025.

Antenatal and postnatal clinics, home visiting and infant‑feeding support in Melton will continue. Families will still be able to choose between midwife‑led units at Leicester General Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary, consultant‑led care, or the Home Birth Team.

The ICB’s Chief Nurse Maria Laffan said: “We recognise how important the service at St Mary’s has been to many families and staff and we are very grateful to everyone who shared their experiences and views on the impact of the pause. Birth numbers have been extremely low for several years, making it impossible to maintain the skills and 24‑hour staffing required for a standalone unit. Today’s decision implements the lawful 2021 decision as far as we safely can, and our focus now is to continue to strengthen our maternity services for everyone in our communities living and working in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.”

St Mary’s provided services to women from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland but has seen very low birth numbers for several years, averaging one to two per week. National guidance is clear that standalone midwife‑led units require consistent activity to maintain clinical skills and operate safely. Falling activity, alongside staffing pressures and high levels of temporary cover, meant the service could no longer be safely sustained.

Because the unit had to be staffed 24/7 despite very low activity, the cost per birth at St Mary’s rose to £11,928 in 2024/25, which is more than double the average cost of a midwife‑led birth across UHL sites. While the decision is driven primarily by safety and sustainability, the financial picture highlights why the current model is no longer viable. Plans to build a new standalone unit at Leicester General Hospital are delayed due to changes in timelines for national capital funding.

More than 200 people took part in engagement activities, sharing feedback about the calm environment at St Mary’s, the high‑quality postnatal and feeding support, concerns about travel, and the emotional impact of the pause. This insight has been shared with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) to support ongoing maternity improvements.

Julie Hogg, Chief Nurse at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “St Mary’s has a proud history, and the care, commitment and compassion shown by colleagues over many years has meant a great deal to families. We want to recognise and thank everyone who has contributed to that legacy.

“We are focused on ensuring women, babies and families receive safe, high‑quality care, and on listening carefully to what people tell us matters most to them. What we have learned from St Mary’s, and from the views people have shared, will help inform how we continue to improve maternity care for families across our area.”

The ICB and UHL will now work together on a managed transition, including support for staff and clear communication with families.