Cheltenham General Hospital says the closure is necessary to free up space for non-Covid patients.
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East Sussex NHS suspends home births
Copyright: Getty ImagesThe option to give birth at home or at a midwife-led unit in Sussex has been suspended due to the "unprecedented situation" with Covid-19 across the county, expectant mothers have been told.
The NHS in East Sussex said its ambulance service was under "significant pressure" and whilst it was prioritising urgent 999 calls, including emergency pregnancy issues, response times may be delayed.
"Giving birth in both in these venues presents a higher degree of risk. The safety of births is our priority, so across Sussex the decision has been made to suspend planned homebirths and births at stand-alone midwife-led units at this time," it said.
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