A mum-of-two has been waiting to be induced for five days after medics told her they were worried about her baby's growth.

Tamara Smedley is 38 weeks' pregnant and was expecting to have her waters broken on Monday at Medway Maritime Hospital.

But she is still waiting and believes this is due to staffing shortages at the Gillingham site.

A spokesman for the health trust says there are some issues as there are at other hospitals across the country.

Tamara, 26, was told by midwives that her baby was only 5lbs 10oz and they were slightly worried her placenta might fail so would need inducing.

She and her partner Aaron Kirkwood claimed they were sent home from the hospital in Windmill Road and told to come in for daily observations.

They are still waiting for their procedure and say they have not been given an answer as to when this is likely to be.

Aaron said: "In a heatwave the last thing someone wants is to be stuck on a hospital ward and so many are. The frustrating thing is that no one knows what is going on. We just have to wait.

"If something was to go wrong in the birth and they are so overstretched, it is worrying.

"There needs to be a lot more midwives available. They cannot induce people or break their waters because they cannot open the rooms as there is not enough staff."

The Gillingham residents say only two or three rooms out of around 10 on the delivery suite are open, the hospital is understaffed with community midwives covering shifts and they have not seen a consultant since Monday despite being told they should be seen every day.

But a trust spokesman confirmed there were no rooms shut in the delivery suite that week.

Aaron, 27, said: "We are still waiting. We were told the baby is not growing as it should be. We were told Tamara would need inducing but the days are going by and by and by and here we are.

"They are so short on midwives and everyday Tamara has been told 'not today, you will not have your waters broken'.

"Loads of people are waiting. They cannot cope up here it is so so bad. Something needs to be done, they are massively under pressure and there is only like two midwives on shift."

The pair say they are now waiting by the phone to hear when they can come in and Tamara fears missing her other daughter's first birthday next Tuesday.

Aaron said: "There is a possibility she might miss it as the time is going on and on and there has been no movement on a room being available.

"They are going to ring and say there is a room and we will have to accept it but could miss our daughter's very first birthday.

"Parents love to spend their children's birthdays with them especially their very first."

Jayne Black, Interim Chief Executive at Medway NHS Foundation Trust said: “While our maternity service is very busy, the safety of patients in our care is the priority and we are continuing to monitor Ms Smedley’s condition so we can ensure she receives the right care and support she needs.”