A maternity facility in Cumbria, which temporarily halted its birthing services due to “significant” staffing issues, is scheduled to resume operations in February, an NHS trust has announced. The Helme Chase Unit at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal ceased operations in May, requiring those in the south Lake District who wished to give birth at a hospital to travel to either Barrow or Lancaster. University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust stated at the time that the decision was “difficult” because it no longer possessed enough midwives to safely staff the service. Director Susan Foyle announced that the trust has since recruited more personnel and that the service is set to recommence on 10 February. She added that restoring the service would allow the trust to progress with the NHS’s maternity plan, which advocates for “personalised care” and “supporting women to give birth in a place of their choice”. The trust confirmed that the service will operate as it did previously, enabling individuals to give birth 24 hours a day. Helme Chase typically handles approximately two births monthly and functions as a midwife-led unit, signifying the absence of doctors. Women identified with an uncomplicated pregnancy have the option to choose to give birth there. Prenatal and postnatal care, along with outpatient appointments, remained unaffected by the suspension of birth services. The service’s halt in May occurred subsequent to a report that disclosed “significant issues” regarding the Helme Chase community, birth centre, and home birth on-call availability. Post navigation Brighton Resident Documents His Brain Cancer Treatment in Film Woman Survives Cardiac Arrest at Home, Credits Daughter and Air Ambulance, Plans “Amazing Christmas”