Use it or lose it, mums-to-be told as maternity unit re-opens

The unit, where about 130 babies are born each year, closed in November while hospital bosses attempted to fill 15 full-time vacancies across the trust needed to keep it open.

Campaigners also formed a "Mums' Army" and collected thousands of signatures on a petition after the closure.

Fran Toller, maternity services manager, said: "The unit will re-open on June 25 and we've got a number of women already booked in for delivery.

"We've still got a small vacancy factor of about three, but we hope by August this year to have secured enough staff to have those vacancies filled.

"We've done a lot of hard work to make sure the unit is attracting the right staff."

She said that everyone at the trust and the campaigners were delighted at the news but that there was a lot of work to do to make sure Guisborough was not a target for closure in the future.

"Another reason why Guisborough was closed was because it was not being used," she said. "We need women to use the unit and we are urging them to do so.

"We have some new ideas, and women are very welcome to come and have a look round to see what facilities we can provide.

"We are trying to promote a very low technology environment by doing a series of one-stop rooms. These are where a mother-to-be can come for labour, delivery and post-natal care in one room.

"Also, if she wants an early discharge home, her partner can be encouraged to stay with her to enable this."

She added that Focus DIY had given £2,000 to re-decorate the unit.

Middlesbrough South MP Dr Ashok Kumar said: "I see this as a victory for people power. At the time the unit closed, I know the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust said that the closure was only temporary.

"However, I know that many local people were doubtful if the doors would ever open again.

"I am glad that the unit will be functioning again in a few short weeks."

For more information about the unit's services contact your community midwife.