We firmly believe that Melton needs its Birthing Unit.  As a much loved, vital service, it forms an important piece of the jigsaw for women and their families requiring maternity care.  The unit gives pregnant mothers a choice in the ethos of care and being local it saves the long drive when in labour.  Furthermore, it provides wonderful after care, including support around breastfeeding and mothers mental health.  The larger hospitals simply don't have the resources for this.

If it closed there is also the risk of more pressure on midwives as more low risk mothers might choose to have home births instead of risking the journeyy to Leicester. Each home birth requires two midwives present and the question is will there be enough to go around.

Finally, the Birthing Unit not only needs to stay open but we call on it to be properly funded going forward.

This petition has been started by The Rutland and Melton Labour Party.

www.rutlandmeltonlabour.org.uk