Huge crowd expected for protest in Stroud

Midwives and members of the community will march across the town to take part in a protest as the March with Midwives movement 'declare a state of emergency'. 

The national organisers of the march wanted demands to be reduced, action to save maternity services and funding for emergency retention. 

92 per cent of midwives and maternity support workers report that they feel undervalued by the current government.

Earlier this month the SNJ reported that beds are currently only available for six to 12 hours following a birth with new mums who require extra care being offered the option of home visits or attending another centre.

The change is being reviewed and has been blamed on staffing issues.

A few weeks a petition was launched to keep the unit fully operational which has been signed by more than 6,500 people. 

Beds at the unit have now been closed for almost 50 days. 

"We want to highlight the staff shortages in our area," said Kate Buckingham,  chair of group Stroud Maternity Matters.

"This year’s march is about raising public awareness but will also allow for many local political figures to speak about what can be done at a county and national level to improve the recruitment and retention of midwives.

"A midwife should be a highly prized worker who has a long and well managed career that reflects the tax payers needs.

"Burning out our midwives damages us all.

"We need to know when a fully operational unit will be returned to the Stroud community.

"Each day represents another set of women who have not accessed post-natal beds.

"We will march on November 20 to show our solidarity with the March for Midwives movement nationally and also to raise our own focus of getting Stroud’s six post natal beds back open and well staffed."

"In 2006 it felt like the whole of Stroud came out to fight against the unit’s closure. 

"It is vital we remain vigilant and show the decision makers that we care and that we will not let our unit be down-graded without a fight."