Women in labor turned away from UK hospitals

By Avril Ormsby

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Nearly half of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) maternity units had to turn away women in labor last year because they were full, figures showed on Thursday.

Furthermore, a shortage of facilities or staff led to almost one in 10 of these units closing more than 10 times.

One closed 28 times, while another was forced to shut its doors 39 times.

The figures, collected by the opposition Conservative Party under the Freedom of Information Act, showed large maternity units were more likely to be forced to close than smaller ones.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley blamed the government's policy of closing small maternity units in favor of larger ones for the situation, arguing it "flew in the face of common sense".

"Women don't want to have to travel miles to give birth," he said.

"And they certainly don't want to have to travel even further because they're turned away by the hospital of their choice."

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) said 400 extra consultants are needed in England and Wales.