NHS Launches Fresh Focus Groups as Future of St Mary’s Birth Centre Hangs in Balance
The future of maternity care in Melton and Rutland remains under intense scrutiny as health bosses launch a new wave of focus groups to understand the impact of the ongoing "pause" at St Mary’s Birth Centre.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) has announced an additional online session for Thursday 5 February, 6.30pm – 8pm, following significant pressure from patients and local partners.
The standalone midwifery-led unit has been closed to births and inpatient postnatal care since July 2025. Health officials originally cited "safe staffing" challenges and a decline in birth numbers as the primary reasons for the suspension.
At the time of the closure, data revealed that less than 1% of the region's births took place at St Mary’s, with just 92 births recorded the previous year. Furthermore, approximately 30% of the community midwifery team were unavailable due to sickness or maternity leave, making it "increasingly difficult to maintain safe clinical standards."
While the current suspension is officially a "pause," it aligns with a controversial 2021 decision to relocate all births from St Mary’s to a new unit at Leicester General Hospital.
However, national funding constraints and delays to the New Hospitals Programme have left the service in a state of limbo. The new maternity facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, which were meant to trigger the move, have not yet been built.
Local campaigners and Melton MP Edward Argar have repeatedly expressed fears that the "temporary" closure is a "backdoor route" to permanent decommissioning. A petition signed by over 3,000 residents previously urged the NHS to protect the site, arguing that its closure removes vital choice for mothers in rural Leicestershire and Rutland.
The ICB is now specifically targeting those whose birthing plans were disrupted. The upcoming focus groups aim to gather "detailed understanding" of the impact on families to inform the final decision-making process.
Who is eligible to attend?
Individuals who planned to give birth or receive postnatal care at St Mary’s between July 2025 and September 2026.
Partners, family members, and carers of those affected.
NHS staff and students who worked at the centre prior to the pause.
How to join:
Date: Thursday 5 February 2026
Time: 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Registration: Advance booking is required at
www.bit.ly/smbc-groups Alternative: A questionnaire is also available until 11pm on Sunday 1 February 2026 at
www.bit.ly/smbc-impact
A spokesperson for the ICB Engagement and Insights Team said: "These experiences will help us make sure the next steps are clear, fair, and informed by those most impacted."
The findings from these sessions will be analysed by an independent researcher and presented to the Integrated Care Board later this year to determine the long-term fate of the unit.
