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Manchester maternity shake-up temporarily shelved

07/02/2007

Government plans to transform maternity services in Greater Manchester have been postponed pending a review.

It follows vocal protests from residents of Salford, Rochdale and Bury, who objected to plans that would see the closure of maternity wards in several localities across the city-region.

A surprise review was announced in the House of Commons by health minister Rosie Winterton, who confirmed there would "be a full consultation on the proposals".

The BBC quotes her as saying: "It is obviously quite a large area to be covered so I would expect it would probably be at least three months before any consultation is concluded."

As part of a radical NHS shake-up, the government had hoped to create eight centres of excellence for mothers and children, with specialised neo-natal care at three super units in St Mary's, Manchester, the Royal Bolton Hospital and the Royal Oldham.

NHS North West had assured residents that 97.6 per cent of the city-region's population would be within a 30-minute car journey of one of these centres.

However, this did not stop Salford MP and Labour Party chair Hazel Blears from joining protestors outside Hope Hospital.

The review panel will report back to the health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, in three months' time.




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