THE Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, is again providing a full-time service for local mothers and their babies, following the resolution of a staffing shortage which prompted its closure at weekends.

The MBU provides care for premature babies (although only those born at 36 weeks or later) who need extra nursing care such as help with breathing or feeding.

A shortage of specially trained Neonatal Nurses, who specialise in the care of premature babies, prompted a decision in late June to close the unit at weekends.

Helen Blanchard, Director of Nursing and Midwifery for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust explained that following regular reviews of the closure, sufficient numbers of staff had now returned from sickness or maternity leave to reopen the unit full time.

"The MBU was open last weekend, and will now remain open indefinitely, subject to the maintenance of adequate staffing levels," she explained.

"Of course, if the situation changes, we may have to reconsider this. Our priority has to be the safety of the mums and babies we are caring for."

The Trust's Chief Executive John Rostill also stressed that the ongoing review of the provision of maternity services at the Alexandra would also continue.

"Our discussions with the Birmingham Women's Health Care NHS Trust (BWHC) about possible collaborative working on neo-natal services at the Alexandra Hospital are progressing positively," he said.

"BHWC have indicated a willingness to take on the management of neo-natal services at the Alexandra, subject to a number of conditions being fulfilled.

"These are: Extra funding from Worcestershire Primary Care Trust An agreement to follow BWHC clinical guidelines and protocols The full co-operation of our clinicians and managers in the collaboration.