Mums-to-be sunk

ANGRY mums have hit out at aquanatal aerobics classes being axed across the borough.

Health chiefs have cut the sessions, run by midwives, to save money and say they are not an essential service.

But users say they are popular and the loss will affect people with health issues.

Aquanatal is a form of safe exercise that frees women from the weight of pregnancy.

Users pay just over £4 and women who aren’t pregnant are able to join in if there’s room.

Mums say the classes were stopped without warning. Mandy Bowerman (44), from Derker, attended with her daughter. She said: “The aquanatal ran all over the borough and they have pulled the plug for every single one.

“I attended at Glodwick Health Centre where there’s very rarely less than eight people.

“It’s a massive loss. People who have had children have been going back when they are on their next pregnancy.

“You would not think to look at my daughter that she’s had a baby as she’s kept up the exercises.”

Miss Bowerman added: “It’s not just the exercise, it’s the social side as well.

“I suffer badly with stress and it gave me some free time and made me feel better about myself.

A spokesman for Pennine Acute NHS Trust said: “In light of the need for the maternity service to make significant savings in the coming year, the Trust has had to review and prioritise the workload of the small midwifery workforce across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and North Manchester.

“While beneficial, aquanatal is not an essential maternity service. The Trust felt that midwives attending or providing aquanatal classes would reduce the time that they could spend on other types of essential maternity care, such as antenatal and post natal visits or home births.

Oldham Community Leisure Ltd, which runs leisure facilities across the borough, could step in to provide the classes.

Chief executive Ian Kendall said: “We are trying to come up with a solution to keep them going.”