What about mother and baby?

[AB Asks]

Dozens of maternity units could be shut down in a health service shake-up. It could mean women in labour will have to travel further to have their babies. When a woman is in labour having to travel and extra half an hour could be damaging to her health or that of her baby's. Dr Shribman, national clinical director for children, young people and maternity service, said in an interview any new plans would not see a reduction in services, but she did not deny that the changes may see some maternity units close.

What do you think of these new changes that could see some maternity units close? Would you be worried if you were or are pregnant?

[MustafaTickl]

You ask if I would be worried if I were or are pregnant. In both cases my answer is yes - very.

[river]

I think it is disgusting that these closures are even being considered. The NHS is a disgrace and I think the UK should introduce the US way of administering healthcare, bring in insurance I would never bring a child into the world whilst living in this country. These new potential plans just confirm my view.

[tiquismiquis]

I really don't think the government is intentionally trying to put new born babies' lives in danger. I think that the reasoning behind these closures is to encourage more home births, which are becoming increasingly more safe, given the constantly improving levels of ante-natal care. We voted the government into power in the general election, and I think that we should trust that they know what they're doing. Believe it or not, I don't think the government carries out such actions just to annoy the British Public. We need to understand that maticulous research has been carried out by health ministers and officials, and that their recommendations for the NHS are in accordance to their findings and will eventually contribute to a far more efficient health service.

[Whickerman]

Try the system here in Ireland, where dozens of A&E have been closed, leaving entire counties without a service. Got a head wound? Tough, we open 9-5.

[beryllium]

I want to be on tiquismiquis planet lol..... No maternity units should be closed and the idea of having enough midwives to cover home births is hilarious when you think about the amount of births per hour.
Of course the proof will be in the pudding... no pun intended
because of the death rate of infants possibly going up? the rate of brain damaged births going up? because of the mileage having to travel in labour. Will caesarians be performed instead? surgeons booked in advance? although that seems to be a safe way of having a child these days it will take more beds up.
Sometimes I wonder if this government really does know it's backside from its elbow.

[spanner7853]

This is happening where I live and the route to the nearest maternity hospital is the busiest road in my town. I suffered miscarriages and getting to the hospital in time for that was bad enought but to be in labour and have to travel all the way to the nearest hospital is just ridiculous. I can see a number of women opting to give birth at home and then that will lead to staff shortages as there wont be enough midwives to go round. Our last few managers of hospitals had been given huge payoffs and if they hadnt they could of funded our maternity ward for at least a year.

[lector]

�Dozens of maternity units could be shut down in a health service shake-up

any new plans would not see a reduction in services,�

I just dont get it !

Shut down = less available units to give maternity service

these must be very clever new plans .......... any new plans would not see areduction in services

accepting that resources are limited ......
deciding on what services should be provided is a nightmare

just don't see how home births are a more efficient use of resources - midwives driving around form pillar to post ....

[kwicky]

They realise it is almost impossible to staff high ranking consultants in every maternity unit. As most births are normal today ,scans taken, and without many breech births they think it would be a waste of resources. Nearly every household has now use of a car it should be unnecessary to call an ambulance. The midwives will now play a valuable service for normal births!

[johnizere]

tiquis....I wouldn't trust this government with my last fiver.....too late, they've already got it.

[simsfreq]

The NHS is slowly dying, we're all going to have to accept that sooner or later.

On a happier note, the Maternity department near where I live (At Warwick Hospital) was going to be closed and now has been saved. But a lot of local parents here were very worried.

[Le Chat]

I was very lucky to have had my second child in a small midwife led unit here in Southport, just before it closed. It closed due to underuse. This was because women were given 'duff gen' about it. They were told that no first births were allowed there (they were) and most women were herded to Ormskirk Hospital (10 miles away) not even knowing that the small unit existed. So now our lovely seaside, tourist town has no maternity and more frighteningly, no children's A&E.
I am so glad that my child bearing days are over and I don't have to face the prospect of a longer and very busy routed journey to hospital.