Staff past and present gathered this afternoon to share memories and cake as the labour ward at King George Hospital shut its doors for the last time.

The decision to close the unit in Barley Lane, Goodmayes was rubberstamped by the board of NHS North East London and the City on March 7.

The birthing centre at Queen’s Hospital in Romford opened in January and all future births will now take place there.

Amy Lester worked as a midwife for the last 34 years and for the last 20 years worked on the labour ward.

She is now retiring after helping thousands of women give birth and witnessing the first and last births at the unit.

Daunys Donatas, a porter at the hospital, and Leva Zemaityte from Romford welcomed their first baby, Dovydas, into the world yesterday at 2.19am.

He baby weighed 8lb 2oz and is now at home with his mum and dad.

Mrs Lester said: “Some of my babies are coming back to have babies.

“I love handing over a healthy baby to proud parents – it is my life achievement.

“I do feel sad to leave the profession, the staff here are like my second family.”

Kim Hurn has been matron on the labour ward for two-and-a-half years.

She said: “What I will miss is the care and compassion of the staff. They have provided an excellent service to every woman who has used this unit regardless of their situation.”

Beryl Agbley is also retiring after 33 years as a midwife.

She said: “I got to 50 births and stopped counting.

“There was one woman I remember helping. It was her first baby and she gave birth within half an hour, smiling her head off the whole time. She didn’t feel any pain.

“I will miss being a midwife.”

The reconfiguration of services was put on hold until improvements were made at Queen’s after a spate of maternal deaths, but the hospital received a glowing CQC report in January and the go-ahead was given.

All staff, apart from those retiring, will now work at the birthing centre in Queen’s.

Under the changes maternity units at Newham, Homerton and Whipps Cross have expanded to meet demand in north east London.

NELC says the changes will mean that women with more complex births will be able to deliver their babies more safely as specialist services will be concentrated in fewer centres with more senior doctor cover.

But campaigners argued against this, claiming the rising population has not been factored in to the decision and the demand will be too high to meet without King George.

The labour ward will close at 6pm tonight.

For a video of the leaving party go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88aUq4kfGXc