A DETERMINED mother's fight to see post-natal services return to Wyre Forest Birth Centre has prompted a change of opinion by the man who closed the facility after six babies died.

After being handed a petition containing 3,202 names, collected in three weeks, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, John Rostill, said: "There clearly is strength of feeling within the community that they want the birth centre to reopen".

Just last month, however, he had told the Shuttle/Times & News he was "unconvinced there was any real measure of support for reopening the centre".

David Priestnall, chairman of Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust, which commissions maternity services in the district, pledged the petitions - which he took away with him - would be taken into consideration when a decision was made on the midwife-led unit.

After handing over the petition at Kidderminster Hospital treatment centre, on Monday, campaigner, Elizabeth Bytheway, said she was pleased with her achievements but pledged to carry on fighting.

Her friend, fellow mother-turned-campaigner, Tonia Heywood, who is studying for a degree in health studies and social welfare, said many mothers had said they would rather have their children at home than go to Worcester.

Wyre Forest MP, Dr Richard Taylor, who was also at the meeting, which he organised, argued: "The basic message is if this service can be provided perfectly safely in at least two other places there is no reason it cannot be provided for people here.

"Kidderminster people have been treated so badly by the health service in so many ways but this is something they don't need to be treated badly over."

Mrs Bytheway started her battle after receiving "brilliant care" at the centre following the birth of her daughter, Charlotte, in Worcester, last August.

She added: "There are some really good comments from people who've had babies here and at Worcester. A lot praise the care at Kidderminster."

Mr Rostill said it was important to remember that the formal process started after an independent inquiry team found failings in the standard of care provided at the centre may have contributed to the death of babies.

A panel set up to monitor implementation of the report's 27 recommendations will present its findings in March.