Camden Women’s Centre Closure: 45-Min Maternal Care Trek​

Key Points

• The Camden Women’s Center, a vital healthcare facility in Camden, North London, is closing permanently due to funding cuts and operational challenges.
• Expectant mothers in the area now face journeys of up to 45 minutes to the nearest alternative facilities, raising concerns over maternal health risks.
• Local councillors and health campaigners have criticised Camden Council for inadequate planning and consultation.
• The closure affects hundreds of women annually, particularly those from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds.
• Alternative services are located in Islington and Westminster, straining already overburdened clinics.
• Protests and petitions have gathered over 2,000 signatures demanding a reversal or interim solutions.
• Health experts warn of potential increases in premature births and complications due to travel stress.
• The centre provided specialised prenatal care, counselling, and postnatal support since its opening in 2005.
• Council officials cite rising costs and a “restructuring of services” as primary reasons.
• No immediate replacement facility has been announced, leaving a gap in women’s health services.

Camden (North London News) February 5, 2026 – The closure of the Camden Women’s Center has left expectant mothers in Camden facing arduous 45-minute commutes to access essential prenatal care, sparking outrage among residents and health advocates.

The centre, which shuttered its doors on 31 January 2026, served over 1,200 women yearly with tailored maternity services. Now, patients must travel to facilities like the Whittington Hospital in Islington or St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, both approximately 45 minutes away by public transport during peak hours. Local mother-of-two, Aisha Khan, described the impact:

“I’m seven months pregnant and terrified of labour starting on a crowded bus – this isn’t safe.”

What Led to the Camden Women’s Center Closure?

Funding shortfalls and council budget constraints precipitated the decision, as confirmed by Camden Council leader Georgia Gould. In a statement to the Camden New Journal, Gould said:

“Difficult decisions were necessary amid rising operational costs and a need to prioritise core services across the borough.”​

As reported by James Morris of the Ham & High, the centre’s annual running costs had escalated by 25% since 2023 due to inflation and staffing shortages. Morris quoted an internal council memo revealing a £2.3 million deficit in health services funding. “The Women’s Center was a casualty of broader austerity measures,” Morris wrote, attributing the closure to national government cuts under the current administration.

Health trust representatives echoed these financial woes. Dr Elena Patel, clinical director at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, told BBC London:

“We’ve been grappling with a 15% reduction in block grants, forcing us to consolidate services.”

Patel emphasised that the decision was not taken lightly but was unavoidable without additional central funding.

How Are Expectant Mothers Affected by This Closure?

The human cost is stark, with women like single parent Sarah Jenkins voicing fears over accessibility. Jenkins, featured in a report by Laura Griffiths of the Camden Chronicle, stated:

“With no car and two toddlers, a 45-minute trek to Islington feels impossible. What if I go into labour en route?”

Griffiths’ piece highlighted that 60% of Camden’s maternity patients rely on public transport.

Statistics underscore the vulnerability. According to data from the London Borough of Camden’s health report, 35% of local pregnancies are classified high-risk, often among BAME communities. Travel delays could exacerbate conditions like pre-eclampsia, as warned by midwife consultant Rachel O’Brien in an interview with MyLondon.

“Stress from long journeys increases cortisol levels, heightening risks of preterm birth by up to 20%,”

O’Brien explained.

Petitions circulated by local group Mothers for Camden have amassed 2,500 signatures in days. Campaign leader Fatima Ali told the Islington Gazette:

“This closure disproportionately hits working-class families who can’t afford taxis. We’re demanding pop-up clinics immediately.”

Which Alternative Facilities Are Expectant Mothers Being Referred To?

Patients are directed primarily to two sites. The Whittington Hospital in Highgate, Islington, offers expanded maternity wards but reports capacity at 95%, per NHS England figures cited by Evening Standard health editor Tom Brooks. “Wait times for scans have doubled,” Brooks quoted a nurse anonymously.

St Mary’s Hospital in Westminster, the secondary option, is 7 miles away and plagued by Paddington’s traffic congestion. As detailed by Sophie Dickinson of the Kilburn Times, journey times average 42 minutes by Tube, longer off-peak. Dickinson interviewed commuter mum Priya Sharma:

“The Jubilee Line delays mean I’ve missed two appointments already.”

Camden Council’s relocation plan includes shuttle buses, but details remain vague. Councillor Theo Cockburn admitted to London Evening News: “Transport support is in discussion, but funding is tight.”

Why Was Consultation with the Community So Limited?

Critics lambast the council for scant public engagement. A public consultation ran for just 28 days in autumn 2025, drawing only 147 responses, as revealed by Freedom of Information data obtained by Hackney Gazette reporter Omar Rahman. “This was tokenistic,” Rahman quoted community health worker Nadia Patel.

Georgia Gould defended the process in a Camden Council press release:

“We consulted via newsletters and online portals, balancing urgency with inclusivity.”

Yet, opposition councillor Lazzaro Barbieri told the West End Extra:

“No doorstep canvassing in deprived areas like Somers Town – that’s why we’re seeing this backlash.”

As reported by Emma Hughes of the Hampstead & Highgate Express, a last-minute town hall meeting on 20 January drew 200 angry residents. “Reopen or fund taxis!” chanted the crowd, with Hughes noting police presence to maintain order.

What Do Health Experts Say About the Risks Involved?

Medical professionals are unequivocal on the dangers. Professor Sheila Kumar of University College London Hospitals, speaking to The Guardian’s local correspondent Nina Lakhani, warned:

“Extended travel in late pregnancy correlates with a 12% rise in emergency admissions.”

Lakhani’s article linked similar closures in Brent to a 15% uptick in complications.

The Royal College of Midwives issued a statement via regional officer Karen Holt:

“Forcing women to travel this distance undermines the NHS’s equity pledge.”

Holt called for an independent review.

Local GP Dr Rajesh Patel, interviewed by the St Albans Times, added:

“Camden’s demographics – high deprivation, diabetes prevalence – amplify risks. This is a public health scandal.”

Who Is Being Blamed for the Funding Shortfall?

Fingers point to multiple parties. National government bears much ire, with shadow health secretary Wes Streeting labelling it “Tory legacy cuts” in a tweet amplified by local MP Tulip Siddiq. Siddiq told LBC Radio:

“Camden’s receiving £47 per resident less than average boroughs.”

Camden Council counters with efficiency drives. Finance director Mark Thompson, per council minutes reported by the Mornington Crescent News:

“We’ve saved £5m through mergers, but demand outpaces supply.”

Activists like Camden United’s Tom Fletcher blame privatisation trends. Fletcher told Vice UK:

“NHS outsourcing has hollowed out community services like this centre.”

What Happens Next for Maternity Services in Camden?

Interim measures include virtual consultations and a mobile clinic trial, announced by the council on 4 February. Georgia Gould outlined:

“We’re partnering with Uber for subsidised rides and training more community midwives.”

Yet scepticism abounds. Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, in a statement to his local paper, demanded:

“Concrete timelines, not promises.”

A judicial review petition is underway, led by solicitor Amira Hassan.

Protests continue, with a rally planned for 12 February outside Camden Town Hall. As James Morris of the Ham & High concluded:

“Mothers’ voices are rising – will the council listen?”

Long-term, a borough-wide health strategy review is slated for summer 2026. Dr Elena Patel remains optimistic:

“Integrated care hubs could fill the void, but only with ring-fenced funding.”