Birthing services at midwife-led units

NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) would like to thank everyone, including members of the public, stakeholders and partner organisations, for taking the time to share feedback and participate in the public consultation on midwife-led birthing services at County Hospital, Stafford, and Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, Lichfield.

Following publication of the Report of Findings in June 2026, a decision-making business case and proposal went to the ICB Boards in Common in September 2026. You can find the board paper (p149), consultation overview, formal public consultation plan, Quality impact assessments from 2024 and 2026, and Equality, Health Inequality Impact and Risk Assessments from 2024 and 2026. The decision taken was to make permanent the temporary closure of birthing services at County Hospital and Samuel Johnson Community Hospital and retain GTT and Anti-D immunoglobulin clinics at Queen’s Hospital, Burton. The pre-consultation business case was shared in ICB board papers 20 March 2025 (p79 onward), with appendices.

Background

The consultation considered a proposal to make permanent the temporary closure of the freestanding midwife-led birthing units introduced in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The formal public consultation took place between 12 May 2025 and 3 August 2025, during which more than 1,400 responses were received from members of the public, stakeholders and partner organisations.

While birthing services have remained closed, antenatal and postnatal care has continued at both sites. Since the pandemic, Glucose Tolerance Testing (GTT) and Anti-D services have not been provided at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, with these services delivered from alternative locations. Additional targeted engagement was undertaken throughout February 2026 to better understand the impact of these arrangements and identify any potential mitigations.

The Report of Findings summarises the feedback received through both the public consultation and further engagement activity. It supported the development of a Decision-Making Business Case, which went through ICB governance processes, prior to going to board in September 2026.

All feedback and evidence gathered through the consultation and engagement process was fully considered before a final decision-making business case and proposal was developed.

What are glucose tolerance tests (GTTs) and anti-D injections?

GTT is a blood test used to diagnose gestational diabetes, which can occur during pregnancy. Anti-D immunoglobin is given to women whose blood type is RhD negative to prevent an immune response when the baby’s blood type is RhD positive.

How can I find out more about the 2025 consultation?

You can read more about the 2025 consultation lower down this page, including links to documents you can download and other information pages on this website.

2025 consultation: the background

The consultation proposal outlines the permanent closure of the birthing services at two freestanding midwife-led birthing units (FMBUs). These are at County Hospital, Stafford, and Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, Lichfield.

The birthing services have been temporarily closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The units remained open for antenatal and postnatal care and these services would continue to be offered as part of the consultation proposal.

To read more about the FMBUs and the proposal, download the consultation document (further down this page) or visit these other pages:

• Maternity Transformation – Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Integrated Care Board
• Birthing services available locally – Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Integrated Care Board
• Birthing services consultation – What is the proposal?
• Birthing services proposal – Advantages & disadvantages

How we gathered views and how your feedback was used

There was a great response to our survey, which was completed by more than 1,400 people, including 61 responses received to the easy read version.

We held four public meetings, two in Lichfield and two online. Two meetings were made available in Stafford, but due to low uptake from the public, those who did wish to attend were able to join online events instead.

As well as these formal meetings, we also went out to community groups such as parent and toddler sessions, postnatal support groups and well-baby clinics to chat to people who were there on the day to hear views and share information.

We gathered all the responses, views and comments from the survey, meetings, community group visits and correspondence. This feedback was independently analysed, and a report of findings was written. It helped inform the decision-making business case and board proposal, which Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB is legally responsible for making.

Want to find out more about the birthing services consultation?

You can find out more information from our consultation page.

You can also download these documents:

• Consultation document (24 pages plus appendix)
• Easy read consultation document (24 pages – has larger text and images)
• Pre-Consultation Business Case (142 pages plus appendices. This is the formal document presented to NHS England about the proposal, why it is needed and how it has been developed.)
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Keep in touch

Email: [email protected]

Online meetings took place on:

• Monday 30 June, 12-2pm – Registration now closed.
• Wednesday 2 July, 6-8pm – Registration now closed.

Face-to-face meetings took place on:

Monday 7 July, 12-2pm – The Guildhall, Lichfield, WS13 6LU – Registration now closed.

Wednesday 25 June, 6-8pm – Lichfield, Samuel Johnson Community Hospital Seminar Room, Lichfield, WS13 6EF, or The Guildhall, Lichfield, WS13 6LU – Registration now closed.