ON reading the article in the Shuttle/Times and News (January 13) I felt compelled to write to offer my utmost support for the retention of the birth centre in Kidderminster.

I am absolutely aghast and appalled to learn that we are losing this facility in Kidderminster, as we have lost all the other hospital services.

Aside from the obvious day-to-day facilities provided by the Birth Centre, I question what will happen with the 24-hour helpline, currently offered by the unit; the breast feeding support group driven by dedicated midwives who give their time to support local mums; as well as suitable post-natal care for those needing to recover from difficult births.

We all know how stretched Worcestershire Royal Hospital is.

Kidderminster and its surrounding area needs suitable maternity facilities. It is utterly ridiculous to travel to Worcester to give birth and then be pressured to leave after a couple of days (or hours in many cases!) due to a lack of available beds.

We have perfectly adequate facilities in Kidderminster to cater for these mums-to-be, and it is a shocking shame that these facilities and indeed the skills of these marvellous midwives is being wasted locally.

Surely the decision to address the issues outlined in the Birth Centre report, and put in place the procedures and processes to manage the Kidderminster birth unit effectively and efficiently would be a more suitable alternative to closure and reduce the pressure on the Worcester unit.

The post-natal care and support I personally received at the Wyre Forest unit was second to none, and the midwives were an inspiration.

Let's not allow another valued local service be closed due to financial implications at the cost of patient care.

VICTORIA SEYMOUR- PERRY

Oakden Place

Kidderminster