The WJC Birth Centre is located at St Michael’s Health Centre, in Rayne Road, Braintree, and offered primary maternity care services to pregnant women from across the district.

The ward has been forced to temporarily reduce its opening hours until the end of September, with the hospital’s trust blaming long term sickness and their own staff’s maternity leave for the problem.

It is the latest blow for healthcare in the district with more service changes and public consultations expected.

Mums-to-be are being directed elsewhere to give birth if they go into labour outside daytime hours or if the birth is expected to go on into the evening.

Emma Wood, from Rayne, is pregnant with her second child.

She said: “I was told two weeks ago during my 36 week appointment.

“My midwife mentioned to me they were going to be shut from 6pm onwards until the end of September.

“They have told me they won’t accept me unless they are sure I am going to have the baby before that time.

“I have heard one story about one mother who was told to leave but outright refused.

“In an age where the NHS encourages midwife led units as they are more cost effective they should make sure they are then available to those mothers who have chosen to deliver there.

“This is a decision which has caused huge distress and upset and removes, for an extended period, an essential facility at the heart of the community.”

The WJC Birth Centre normally offers overnight stays to expectant mums and their partners.

Couples are understood to have been told they will be redirected to either St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon or Colchester General Hospital while the closure is in place.

A spokesman for the Mid Essex Hospitals Trust said: “The trust’s midwifery unit at Braintree has had to reduce its opening hours to ensure we can continue to provide a safe environment for our patients.

“Patient care and safety is always our priority, and due to staff maternity and long term illness, the decision was taken to reduce the unit’s opening hours, which will be reviewed at the end of September.

“Broomfield Hospital will continue to provide care for expectant mothers in the short term, until we are able to return a full service to our Braintree maternity unit.”

The WJC Birth Centre is based at St Michael’s Health Centre but is a separate site and care is entirely led by midwives.

The centre remains open for appointments and clinics during the day.