STAFF shortages resulted in the temporary closure of the Maternity Unit at Ludlow Hospital.

The unit was closed between 8pm on Thursday (January 5) and 8am on Friday morning.

Midwives were still available on call for home births.

Women booked to give birth at Ludlow who went into labour during the temporary closure were offered a home birth or birth on another Unit.

The closure was blamed upon an unexpected short-term staffing issue.

Jo Banks, Women and Children’s Care Group Director at the Shrewsbury and Telford HNS Trust, said that there had been staffing issues over the Christmas and New Year period.

“Our aim is to ensure that our service is staffed safely,” she said.

“Unfortunately at times when we have staffing issues, such as illness, we have to make temporary changes to ensure the safety of women using the services.”