Expectant mums forced to travel for miles to give birth

LABOUR CANDIDATE SAID IT'S 'STAGGERING' SALFORD DOESN'T HAVE MATERNITY UNIT

- DECLAN CAREY

SALFORD mothers are having to “travel for miles” to give birth after the closure of the city’s maternity service, Rebecca Long-Bailey has said.

Salford’s Ingleside birth unit has not been in operation since January 2022 due to staffing issues at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust which runs the facility.

The site was opened after maternity services were scrapped at Salford Royal Hospital in 2017, leaving the city without a place for mothers to give birth.

Labour’s candidate for Salford, Rebecca LongBailey, said the situation has left mothers having to trek long distances to give birth. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s staggering that Salford doesn’t have support from the regional NHS to provide its own maternity facilities.

“Mothers across Salford have to travel for miles to get access to these services, it’s unacceptable.

“It’s hugely difficult for parents because not every family has a car.