SUPPORT OPTION ONE !

An independent review has outlined six options for the future of maternity services in Cumbria and North Lancashire.

The preferred option would mean consultant-led maternity services would remain at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.

I strongly support option one, and I believe the community will  do so too:

WE MUST CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS

The following options were recommended by assessors:

• Option 1 - Four consultant-led maternity units at Carlisle, Whitehaven, Barrow and Lancaster. The immediate development of midwifery-led units at Carlisle and Lancaster, on the same site, or next to them. To evaluate whether midwifery-led units could be developed at Barrow and Whitehaven. This is the preferred option.
• Option 2a – Two consultant-led units at Carlisle and Lancaster and developing two on the same site or next to midwifery-led units at Carlisle and Lancaster. This is the assessors’ second favoured option should it not be possible to achieve Option 1. It would mean the closure of consultant-led units at Whitehaven and Barrow. The report says this option would be more likely to provide better medical cover for women and babies, but could lead to increased travel time and costs for people in West Cumbria.
• Option 2b - Two consultant-led units at Carlisle and Lancaster, developing two on the same site or next to midwifery-led units at Carlisle and Lancaster, while converting the consultant-led units at Whitehaven and Barrow to become ‘free-standing’ midwifery-led units. This would require significant investment in midwifery training in West Cumbria.

The final three options have not been recommended by assessors:

• Option 3 - Three consultant-led units at Carlisle, Lancaster and Whitehaven and developing on the same site or next to midwifery-led units at Carlisle and Lancaster.
• Option 4 - Three consultant-led units at Carlisle, Lancaster and Barrow and developing on the same site or next to midwifery-led units at Carlisle and Lancaster. This would mean the closure of the consultant-led unit at Whitehaven and the relocation of services to Carlisle. While the workforce challenges at Whitehaven are significant the report says that closure would create significant disruption for patients.
• Option 5 - Centralising all services in one unit. While prior to their visit the assessors felt this was likely to be a preferred option, because of the benefits that such a larger unit with 5,000 deliveries would have for women and their babies, given the geography involved they did not think that this option could realistically be developed further.

The report recognises that for NHS Cumbria CCG, and NHS North Lancashire CCG, recruitment is a real problem.

It also takes into account the geography of the area, and the travel difficulties of some people, like those in West Cumbria, if consultant-led maternity services were moved.

It says that if Option 1 is chosen, a project team should be established immediately, including an external senior manager, external obstetrician, head of midwifery and patient representatives.
The team would be accountable to the lead clinical commissioning group and would develop a detailed feasibility report on the cost, viability and risks of proceeding with Option 1. Local views and social deprivation would be important considerations.

The NHS Trusts now have to decide the best way forwards:

"We know how important maternity services are for the local population and the preferred option, Option 1, is consistent with the CCG’s commissioning intentions. However, these services need to be high quality, safe and sustainable and there is much work that needs to be done with both Trusts to overcome the significant challenges that they face.

“Clearly we will need to think about how we take into account the recommendations and any learning from the Kirkup report following the Morecambe Bay Investigation. We will also be sharing copies of the review report with Dr Bill Kirkup and with the team who will be carrying out the national review as announced recently by NHS England. We will also continue to talk to all local partners and the public.”

– Dr David Rogers, medical director of NHS Cumbria CCG

“We will now discuss the findings and recommendations with our Board and staff to understand their views and will work very closely with NHS Cumbria CCG as work progresses over the coming months on the recommendations.”

– Dr Jeremy Rushmer, medical director at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust