Salford City Council is set to approve a new five-year lease with the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust for the Ingleside maternity facility, which has not delivered babies for over two years.
Following the closure of Salford Royal’s maternity ward in 2017 as part of a broader service reorganization, the Ingleside Birthing Center was launched in Swinton’s Oakwood Park the subsequent year thanks to a £2m investment from the council. However, it ceased operations in January 2022 due to both the pandemic and staffing issues.
As it stands, excluding home births, there are currently no facilities for babies to be born within Salford, with residents having to travel to St Mary’s Hospital on Oxford Road in Manchester or the Royal Bolton Hospital for deliveries.
The proposed lease extension for Ingleside, lasting until 2029, will secure the continuation of antenatal and postnatal care services at the center.
Nevertheless, a report prepared for Salford City Council’s cabinet meeting tomorrow indicates that the birthing unit will remain closed because of ongoing staff shortages.
Some have criticised the absurdity of a Bolton hospital managing a birthing unit in Salford when we have one of the largest hospitals in the North West on our doorstep and little over a mile away.
The report mentions that while there is a commitment from the trust to resume birthing services at Ingleside when it is deemed safe, no timeline can be provided due to persistent staffing and service challenges.
Under the terms of the updated lease, the foundation trust will have the option to sub-lease unused ground floor space to a GP surgery.
Salford & Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey had previously campaigned to open the birthing centre, she said via X (Formerly Twitter):
“I successfully campaigned with Salford Labour for babies to be born in Salford and was proud to speak at Ingleside Birthing Centre’s opening. I’m disappointed that since the pandemic it has remained closed. As your MP, I will campaign once again for this facility to re-open.”
The story of Ingleside
The Ingleside building, located in Swinton’s Oakwood Park, has a rich history of serving the community in various capacities before its current function as a maternity facility.
During the mid-20th century, Ingleside transitioned from a private residence to a public service facility. It was repurposed as a convalescent home, providing care and recovery services to patients who had undergone surgery or were recovering from illnesses. This phase marked Ingleside’s first major contribution to the healthcare sector, offering a serene environment for patient recuperation.
In subsequent years, Ingleside expanded its healthcare services to include various outpatient clinics and community health programs. It became a hub for general health and wellness services, catering to the broader needs of the Salford community. The facility hosted a range of services, from physiotherapy and mental health support to child health clinics, underscoring its versatility in meeting diverse healthcare demands.
In 2018, following the closure of Salford Royal’s maternity ward, Ingleside was reopened by the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust as a dedicated birthing center. This marked a significant transformation in its function, focusing on providing comprehensive maternity services, including antenatal and postnatal care. The reopening aimed to fill the gap left by the closure of other local maternity services, making Ingleside a vital resource for expecting mothers in Salford.
Despite its promising start, the maternity unit at Ingleside faced challenges, leading to its closure in January 2022 due to the pandemic and staffing pressures. Currently, the facility continues to offer antenatal and postnatal care, while the birthing unit remains closed. Salford City Council’s decision to extend the lease until 2029 ensures that these essential services can continue, with the potential for birthing services to resume when conditions improve.
