Public hospitals will be closed to non-local pregnant women if their expected delivery dates fall from September to December.

The Hospital Authority said today the measure will ensure adequate provision of services for local expectant mothers in the coming obstetric peak season. But bookings by non-locals for delivery beyond December 31 will be accepted.

Public hospitals implemented measures for obstetric services last year to ensure sufficient places for local pregnant women and to manage the demand on obstetric services by non-locals.

Since then the number of non-local women giving birth in public hospitals fell 27% last year on 2006 while the number of local women giving birth in public hospitals rose 8%.

As the authority projected a rising trend of local pregnant women giving birth in public hospitals this year it will suspend the delivery booking for non-local women in the coming September-December peak period.