Barnet Hospital closed its doors to pregnant women 101 times last year because its maternity department was full, it has been revealed.

The hospital, in Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, transferred an unknown number of women to Chase Farm Hospital, in Enfield, between January and December 2007. Used by two-thirds of Hertsmere patients, the hospital is part of the Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Hospitals Trust, which, along with Edgware Birth Centre, delivered 6,798 babies in 2006/7. A trust spokeswoman said: "We manage our maternity services as one unit. All women are advised at the time of their initial booking appointment that the trust will endeavour to offer them their preferred hospital for the delivery of their baby."However, if that site is working at full capacity they will be asked to attend another site within the trust's maternity services." Hertsmere Borough Council's portfolio holder for health, Brenda Batten, said: "I was unaware of these statistics, but obviously it is very worrying for both the mothers and the babies. "Why is it happening? Surely the midwives and doctors must know how many people are pregnant from their home visits. It is a peculiar situation." The Government wants to give all women a choice as to where and how they have their babies by 2009, but Alex Nunes, chairman of Barnet Hospital's Patient and Public Involvement forum, said: "Patient choice is very nice politically, but whether it was sufficiently thought out by the NHS when it was known there is a deficiency in beds and money is another matter."