WOMEN in labour have been told they cannot use Trowbridge Birthing Centre, following a legionella scare.

Routine appointments are going ahead at the centre, and mums booked to have their babies who will be catered for at Bath’s Royal United Hospital who have sorted the arrangements.

Last Friday, Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which owns the Trowbridge centre, began work on the water system to try and fix the issue, but no date has been given for when the centre will fully reopen.

Helen Blanchard, director of nursing and midwifery, said: “The RUH is putting alternative arrangements in place to support mums-to-be while the Trowbridge Birth Centre is temporarily unavailable to women who wish to deliver their baby at the centre.

“We understand this may give rise to disappointment and we apologise for any inconvenience caused to mums-to-be or their families while st GWH complete the work required and provide the necessary assurance that the delivery facilities can be re-opened.

“Our midwives are in touch with mums-to-be who may be affected by this temporary unavailability, and are helping women to decide on the right place for them to give birth.

“Mothers could can be assured that they would will receive the same high standards of care from theour maternity services team wherever they gave birth, she said at any of our other birthing centres, at our delivery suite located at the RUH or if they chose to give birth at home."

Water specialists from the GWH are currently working on the birthing centre’s water system to try and kill the legionella bacteria, which were found – in non-clinical areas – during a routine, monthly sampling check.

Rupert Turk, Director of Estates and Facilities, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are carrying out work on the water system at Trowbridge Birth Centre, after legionella bacteria was detected in non-clinical areas during monthly sampling.

“We are working closely with Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust who will advise mums-to-be as soon as the Centre can once again be offered as a birth option.

“We routinely check the water systems in all of our buildings and follow a robust water management regime.”

Legionella is a bacteria commonly found in water and it multiplies in temperatures between 20°-45°C.

Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal type of pneumonia, contracted by inhaling airborne water droplets containing legionella bacteria.