Up to 20 English NHS maternity units may need to close

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 10:07 · Archive

Up to 20 English maternity units could close to ensure safe care, an NHS leader warns.

Up to 20 of England's 155 NHS maternity units led by consultant obstetricians may have to shut or change their role to ensure mothers and babies receive safe care, according to Matthew Hopkins, the NHS Alliance's director for acute care. Smaller units delivering fewer than 2,000 babies a year are becoming increasingly unsustainable, Hopkins warned.

The closures would be driven by shortages of doctors and a sharp rise in the number of women having planned or emergency caesarean sections. Many units most at risk are in rural or coastal areas, where staffing is particularly challenging. Hopkins urged ministers and MPs to show 'courage' by backing the changes, saying the current configuration of maternity services is 'not fit for purpose'.

Hopkins acknowledged that centralising childbirth services into fewer hospitals would lead to mothers-to-be in affected areas being forced to travel further to have their babies, and would create a 'political backlash' against unpopular changes. He said 'difficult decisions lie ahead, consolidating maternity services to support safer, more sustainable care'.

How it is being reported

• Nearly two dozen maternity units in England could be forced to close as current system 'not fit for purpose'An NHS leader has warned that the current state of maternity services across the nation was "not fit for purpose" as he warns some birthing units could be forced to shut due to a lack of resources and key staffThe Mirror · 19 Oct, 10:03
• Around 20 maternity units may have to close to keep women and babies safe, NHS boss warnsPoliticians must ‘grasp the nettle’ and make key decisions to keep services safe, NHS Alliance’s acute care director saysThe Independent · 19 Oct, 09:51
• NHS leader: Maternity units delivering fewer than 2,000 babies may have to closeSmaller maternity units, typically those delivering fewer than 2,000 babies a year, may need to close to protect patient safety, an NHS leader has warned.Sky News · 19 Oct, 09:12
• Up to 20 maternity units in England may have to shut, NHS leader warnsExclusive: NHS Alliance’s acute care director says centralisation of services ‘inevitable’ to ensure safe care Why are some NHS maternity units facing closure? Up to 20 maternity units in England will have to shut to ensure mothers and babies receive safe care amid shortages of doctors and rising caesarean section rates, an NHS leader has warned. Matthew Hopkins, the NHS Alliance’s director for acute care, said centralising childbirth services into fewer hospitals was “inevitable” and the “right thing”, but would lead to a political backlash against unpopular changes. Continue reading...The Guardian · 19 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Matthew Hopkins · NHS Alliance · England

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem