Health boss quizzed over maternity fears (From Gazette & Herald)

Health boss quizzed over maternity fears

A HEALTH chief has come under fire from councillors over controversial changes to maternity services in Ryedale.

The chief executive of the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Alison Guy, explained the decision behind the overnight closure of Malton Hospital maternity unit before members of the district council's overview and scrutiny committee.

Mrs Guy said that, under best practice, shift systems at the unit had been changed and auxiliary staff transferred to the main obstetric unit on an "as and when" basis.

The unit is now open on an "on-call" system once the day midwife has finished her shift and mums-to-be agree to a low length of stay, which is less than eight hours, when booking in to Malton Hospital to give birth.

"I believe we have a got a superb service we do submit first-time mums into our unit, which is not that common across the country (for a midwife-led unit) and others are talking to us because they want to develop in the same way, providing care in mums' homes as well as in the hospital," she said.

"Some staff like the changes but there are some people who see them as difficult - they don't want to move and don't want to travel."

Mrs Guy said that the changes were in agreement with a maternity services review which took place in 2003.

However, Coun Howard Keal said: "The review that you referred to specifically rejected limiting the opening hours and that is what the trust has done."

Mrs Guy said the unit was providing 24-hour cover and that women could have their babies at any time of day.

Coun Keal replied: "As it stands, within hours of giving birth, women are now required to leave the hospital at Malton, that is not the case at Scarborough. Do you not accept that is a disincentive for choosing Malton?"

Mrs Guy said many women preferred to go home, but if a woman gave birth at night in Malton Hospital, there were facilities for a midwife to stay overnight with her.

Coun Keal said: "I want all women to realise from what you've said tonight that they have an absolute right to stay the night at Malton Hospital and I want that to be known by women in Ryedale."

Coun Paul Andrews said: "Are they (expectant mothers) told that if you have your child in Malton you will stay for six to eight hours and if you have it in Scarborough, there's a good chance you'll stay in overnight?"

She replied: "They are not told what the difference is and I doubt whether they would be interested in it."

Updated: 13:14 Wednesday, June 22, 2005