Labour Call for Maternity Review

Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary came to Redditch last Thursday ahead of the forthcoming Local & European elections to lend his support speaking to voters in Winyates and listening to their concerns about the cost of living crisis. 

Rebecca Blake, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Redditch especially wanted him to hear from local people about how recent proposals calling for maternity to be cut at the Alex and moved to Worcester would affect them.

Andy heard from local mums, NHS staff and points made by the Save the Alex campaign.  Andy said "I've heard from local mums that one of the problems for people in Redditch having to travel to Worcester Royal instead of the Alex is geography.  I've just come from Worcester and experienced the road works and delays for myself and I understand public transport between Redditch and Worcester is infrequent and takes too long.

"As Health Secretary I would want to know the implications for neighbouring hospitals if births were cut from the Alex.  Hospitals shouldn't be dealt with in isolation because changes to one have knock effects on neighbouring hospitals.  The people of Redditch and its neighbours deserve a detailed review of services across the wider health economy and to be properly consulted before any decisions are made".

Rebecca has written to NHS England requesting a review of maternity capacity.  Rebecca stated "If births are cut from the Alex women will go out of county to have their babies.  I have requested NHS England initiate a review of maternity capacity that extends Worcestershire Acute Trust and takes in all hospitals that would be effected by cutting births at the Alex.  I want to see in black and white just how 2100 births a year will be safely accommodated when neighbouring hospitals are already short on maternity beds".

Bincy mum of two, who had both babies at the Alex said "If the Alex maternity ward is cut it would not be fair and it's a big price for future mums in Redditch to have to pay".

Copy of my letter to NHS England

As you know I do not support the latest recommendation from the Independent Clinical Panel that maternity should be taken from the Alex in Redditch and move to Worcester Royal.

Maternity in Redditch, Worcester and Birmingham is already under pressure, with mums in Redditch and Worcester regularly being taken by ambulance to a hospital further away due to lack of beds.  This state of affairs is a strong reason for consultant led maternity to remain in Redditch.

It is universally agreed that currently there is not enough provision to absorb the 2100 births that take place each year at the Alex.  Any extra investment to rectify this would be better spent on going towards funding existing arrangements.

What underpins my concern about losing maternity in Redditch is that the travel times and distances to what would be the nearest consultant led maternity departments are too long & too far.  In addition as a principle I believe that a DGH such as the Alex that serves the populations of Redditch, Bromsgrove, South Birmingham and West Warwickshire, a population of approximately 225,000 people requires a CLU.

I would like to request that NHS England initiate a review of maternity capacity that extends Worcestershire Acute Trust and takes in all hospitals that would be effected by cutting births at the Alex.  Including Birmingham Women's, Solihull MLU & Heartlands and if mums from West Warwickshire would have used the Alex, the review may need to take in Warwick Hospital too. 

I consider this to be crucial knowledge that must be evidenced prior to any decisions to cut maternity services at the Alex. 

The current decision making process is missing the strategic overview that is necessary to serve the local health economy in terms of maternity and I fear grave consequences of these decisions made in isolation. 

In my view there is time for this work to take place, while the affordability of the Independent Clinical Panel's recommendations are worked up and given the consultation on them is still to be had.  Finally, if this has already taken place, the results must be put into the public domain.

I look forward to your reply.