More than 1,400 people took part in a survey designed to gauge public opinion on the proposal which will mean that patients will have to travel to units at Royal  Stoke University Hospital, Royal Derby Hospital or Queens Hospital in Burton-on-Trent to have their baby.

Under the plans, antenatal and postnatal appointments will continue at County Hospital, Stafford and Samuel Johnson Community Hospital in Lichfield. Home births will remain an option for patients considered to be low risk.

The plans have also been shared in public meetings and visits to antenatal clinics, postnatal support groups and well-baby clinics.

All feedback is being reviewed over the next few months and the report will help the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) to make their decision. 

Both midwife-led birthing units stopped their birthing services during the pandemic and have not reopened because of a national shortage of midwives and falling number of babies born in these units.