BARONESS BOOSTS BABIES AND BUGGIES RALLY (Lorely Burt MP)

BARONESS BOOSTS BABIES AND BUGGIES RALLY

September 14, 2009 12:52 PM

Liberal Democrat Peer, Jenny Tonge and Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt delivered a twin rallying call to campaigners aiming to save Solihull's maternity services, at their Babies and Buggies Rally held in the town last Friday.

The rally was held in the Royal British Legion's Broomfield Hall and was attended by mums and babies, grandparents and parents to be.

Sid Ashby of the Solihull Pensioners Convention also spoke in favour of the campaign.

Lib Dem Health spokesperson for the Lords and former GP, Baroness Jenny Tonge said Solihull was big enough to have its own dedicated maternity services and said that local people should have a far bigger say in deciding their future services.

"A consultation document should go through every door in Solihull because it is your money and should be your right to decide," said Baroness Tonge.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"The Trust has worked hard towards meeting new maternity care standards at Solihull, including achieving 80% round the clock paediatric consultant cover. Now, having almost got there, it seems they have given up. This may suit the management of the Trust, but it certainly doesn't suit families in Solihull.

"If the maternity unit is downgraded to a midwife-led unit, only around 800 women each year will be able to give birth there, compared with 2,700 at the moment.

"Not only will this do a disservice to all the mums-to-be who want and deserve a good local hospital service, it may spell the beginning of the end for all births at Solihull.

"Heartlands maternity unit is the oldest in the network, in need of complete refurbishment and creaking at the seams. What is the point of closing a perfectly good unit to further overcrowd another?

"I will continue to press for an alternative solution to downgrading, which would allow midwives and paediatricians to keep their skills current by rotating between Heartlands and Solihull; maintaining a safe service for mothers to be that meets new maternity standards at our local Solihull hospital."

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Lorely Burt MP