Spotlight to fall on Shropshire maternity units' future

Professionals who work in or with maternity care as well as women who have recently used, or who are currently using maternity services in Shropshire have been invited along to the event.

The briefing will take place at Bradbury Hall, Trinity Centre, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury on October 24.

Run by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group, those attending will be able to learn more about the Midwife Led Unit review.

Specialists will be on hand to give an update on the new 'service model' which will be used to transform the delivery of midwife-led services in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

They will also present 'evidence' which informs the preferred option prior to the public consultation being launched.

The public consultation on plans to scrap births completely at the maternity units in Bridgnorth, Oswestry and Ludlow is due to start later this autumn.

Proposals on the planned total scrappage have been put forward by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups.

In July health bosses suspended births at the three rural maternity units for the foreseeable future. SaTH proposed for the suspension to continue until a long-term plan for the county’s maternity services is put in place.

Health bosses said more than 98 per cent of women were giving birth away from the rural midwife-led units and the trust has to deploy its midwives where women are choosing, or are being assessed as needing to be.

Last month it was revealed that the Care Quality Commission had taken urgent action against the maternity department at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust.

The trust, which runs Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital, must report what actions it is taking on a weekly basis.

A report to SaTH’s board said concerns were raised due to foetal heart monitoring being carried out at midwife-led units, when women were worried about a reduction in their baby’s movements.

Worries were also aired by the CQC that high risk women were being selectively reviewed by obstetricians, with the review being guided by a midwifery assessment.

To find out more about the briefing due to be held on October 24, go to shropshireccg.nhs.uk or to confirm attendance email the MLU Communications and Engagement Team on shrccg.mlu.shropshireccg@nhs.net by Friday (12).