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Maternity closures questioned by Tories

26/03/2008

The Conservatives have questioned a key plank of the government's NHS policy that directly affects a number of hospitals in Greater Manchester.

Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, has questioned why ministers want to close small maternity units in favour of concentrating services in larger units.

The Independent Reconfiguration Panel recently recommended the closure of maternity units in Salford, Trafford, Bury and Rochdale as part of a plan to concentrate services in eight hospitals across the city-region.

Mr Lansley told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we wanted to do was to find out to what extent maternity units were closed temporarily because they were full or unable to be staffed properly.

"The answers told us that over 40 per cent were closed. What it also told us was that some of the larger units were more likely to be closed."

Earlier this year, Salford Royal - formerly known as Hope Hospital - was cited by the Healthcare Commission as one of the UK's best performing trusts for maternity services.