Women in labour turned away from hospitals

By Avril Ormsby

LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly half of NHS maternity units had to turn away women in labour last year because they were full, figures showed on Thursday.

Furthermore, a shortage of facilities or staff led to almost one in 10 of these trusts closing more than 10 times.

One trust closed 28 times, while another was forced to shut its doors 39 times.

The figures, collected by the Conservative Party under the Freedom of Information Act, showed large maternity units were more likely to be forced to close than smaller ones.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley blamed the government's policy of closing small maternity units in favour of larger ones for the situation, arguing it "flew in the face of common sense".

"Women don't want to have to travel miles to give birth," he said.

"And they certainly don't want to have to travel even further because they're turned away by the hospital of their choice."

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said 400 extra consultants are needed in England and Wales.