Maternity at West Cumberland Hospital

I attended a meeting this afternoon of the co-production working group which is developing a plan on how to implement "Option One" for maternity in North. West, and East Cumbria.

As most readers of this blog will probably be aware, "Option one" is not identical to the status quo but does maintain consultant-led maternity units at both West Cumberland Hospital (WCH) in Whitehaven and the Cumberland Infirmary at Carlisle (CIC).

The group has come up with a very long list of questions about how maternity should be provided  and has worked through them.

Almost every question that I could imagine a worried expectant mother or her family might possibly ask is being addressed - the answers to some of these questions are still being developed but I found the progress being made to be very positive.

There is no date yet to actually implement "Option One" and it won't be implemented until all the plans are in place to do so safely and sustainably.

I can't possibly do justice to all the issues being raised but it is perhaps worth mentioning

* There will still be a Level One SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) at both WCH and Carlisle

* Capacity issues are being looked at and don't appear to be a problem

* Availability of Anaesthetist cover is being addressed

* Pathways for safe and sustainable mother and baby patient transfers back home are being looked at in those cases - less than 20% of those who currently deliver at the West Cumberland - where a mother from the West Coast has her baby or babies in Carlisle.

The number of elective and emergency caesarean sections at Carlisle is likely to increase slightly but both elective and emergency C-sections will continue to take place at Whitehaven where that is the best option for mother and baby which in most cases it still will be.