This month’s planned re-opening for births of crisis-hit Montrose Maternity has been delayed.
NHS Tayside has successfully recruited midwives but it is likely to be a few months until they are fully trained.
Births were suspended at the unit in June due to staff shortages and mums-to-be were told it would not re-open again until at least September.
The maternity crisis in Angus deepened just a week later with further cuts to services in Arbroath which now operates an “on call” system after 5pm.
Women will continue to be given a choice of where they would like to give birth until the award-winning unit at Montrose eventually reopens.
Justine Craig, head of midwifery for NHS Tayside, said it is not possible to reopen Montrose Maternity Unit for births “at this time”.
She said: “A new model of care was introduced in Angus in June this year using an on-call system for midwives.
“The model offers Angus women wishing to give birth locally the option of giving birth in Arbroath Community Maternity Unit or at home.
“This service has been working well with positive feedback from women and we will continue to operate with this model for the next few months.
“Patient safety is always our priority and although we had hoped to reopen Montrose Community Maternity Unit for births this month, staff recruitment and training must be completed and it is not possible to reopen the unit for births at this time.
“The Montrose Community Maternity Unit remains open Monday to Friday from 8am until 5pm and continues to provide antenatal and postnatal care for Angus women as usual.
“Women in Angus are being kept informed and continue to have the full range of options for place of birth which include Arbroath Community Maternity Unit, the Dundee Midwifery Unit, home birth or birth in a consultant-led unit in Ninewells Hospital.”
NHS Tayside was previously criticised for waiting until less than 24 hours to make the news public before the closure of the unit in June.
A staff member at Montrose Maternity Unit said: “NHS Tayside have fantastically recruited midwives to the service which is fantastic news.
“The new recruits however will not be ready to support the midwives to run both units for a wee while yet.”
Statistics released by ISD Scotland this week revealed vacancy rates for NHS consultants, nursing and midwifery staff across Scotland continue to increase.
The nursing and midwifery vacancy rate in June stood at 4.2%, a 13.5% increase in the past year.
A total of 59,188 whole-time equivalent nurses and midwives were in post in June 2016, a 0.3% drop from March but a 0.2% increase since June 2015.
Health Secretary Shona Robison has stressed the Scottish Government will work with health boards to reduce long-term vacancies.