Norfolk maternity unit closures would affect neighbouring regions

Summarised from BBC Cambridgeshire's report · Updated 5 Nov, 07:10 · Archive

The Royal College of Midwives warns that closing two of Norfolk's three maternity units would affect patients across the East of England.

The Royal College of Midwives has expressed concern about reports that two of Norfolk's three maternity units could close. The units at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn currently serve patients not only from Norfolk but also from Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. The trade union argues that closing these services would force women to travel unacceptable distances while in labour, with some facing journeys of up to two hours by public transport.

The Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group has published a "Case for Change" document outlining how services could be delivered differently in future, with options including keeping services as they are or closing one or both consultant-led units. NHS leaders say any consolidation would be based on providing safer care for women and babies. However, the RCM argues that closing units serving rural and isolated communities would worsen existing inequalities in maternity outcomes and that the solution lies in investment and additional staffing rather than service cuts. The union also warned that closing maternity units would necessitate closing associated neonatal and children's inpatient wards due to interdependence between services.

Read the report

• Midwives concerned over possible baby unit closuresThe RCM union says possible closures in Norfolk would also affect patients in neighbouring counties.BBC Cambridgeshire · 5 Nov, 06:32

In this story: Royal College of Midwives · Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital · James Paget Hospital · Queen Elizabeth Hospital · Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group · Norfolk · Cambridgeshire · Suffolk

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