Andrew Lansley

Met with Andrew Lansley in February to discuss concerns on maternity provision for Southport in view of known closures at the Ormskirk Unit over the last 6 months, which although temporary and for short periods is unacceptable. Further information will be provided when available.
In 1999 the Christiana Hartley Maternity Hospital transferred its services to the Southport & Formby General Hospital.

            In 2003 together with our Children's Services, the Unit transferred to Ormskirk, and a Midwife led Unit was established in Southport.

            On September 5^th 2005 it was temporarily closed leaving no maternity cover in Southport. It has been confirmed the Ormskirk Maternity Unit closed for 4 hours at the end of February and recent information, still to be confirmed, is that the same unit was closed for 11 hours on 22^nd December 2007.

With reference to the 4 hour closure I was advised that many other pregnant women from other areas are now using the Ormskirk Unit.

 Does this mean the services provided in 2005 are no longer guaranteed in 2008 for Southport residents???

            I will keep you updated on receiving answers to my questions.



Maternity Units

The Government's plans to close maternity units when services are already overstretched fly in the face of common sense.  Labour are fixated with cutting smaller, local maternity services and concentrating them in big units.  But women don't want to have to travel miles to give birth.  We are committed to supporting smaller maternity units - the evidence shows they perform better.

Background

New information uncovered by the Conservatives under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that 42 per cent of NHS Trusts providing maternity services had to turn away women in labour last year because they were full. 

• Almost one in ten Trusts reported closing more than ten times.  One Trust reported closing 28 times and another 39 times. 

• Large maternity units closed more often.  Of those Trusts that closed, 74 per cent had more than 3,000 births last year, the minimum for an ‘efficient' service, according to the Government.  Of the Trusts that closed more than ten times, 78 per cent had more than 3,000 births. 

• Small maternity units reported few closures.  Of those Trusts that did not close, 45 per cent had less than 3,000 births last year. 

• One Trust specifically linked a high number of closures with its high number of deliveries.

• A number of Trusts where maternity units have been under threat failed to respond at all. 

• Two Trusts which are set to concentrate services at one centre, downgrading another, experienced significant capacity problems last year.