Maternity services – both in Bristol and nationally – are under immense pressure due to a shortage of midwives and staff absences. I’ve written to Steve Barclay, the new Health Secretary, asking him to take urgent action.

Limited NHS resources can only stretch so far and, sadly, Cossham Hospital has now temporarily closed its birth unit to protect mothers and babies. Staff have been redeployed to the Mendip Centre at Southmead Hospital. If you’ve been affected by this closure please speak to your midwife who will be able to advise on your options.

After 12 years of neglect under the Conservatives, Labour’s workforce strategy for our NHS is desperately needed. If elected into Government, we would recruit 5,000 new health visitors and create 10,000 more nursing and midwifery clinical placements – delivering on these promises every year.