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It spells end for maternity services

12/12/2006

THE CRY 'Born in Rochdale' could be heading for the history books after maternity services were axed at the Infirmary.

A year after the Observer's Hands Off Our Hospital campaign was launched protesting against planned cuts, health chiefs agreed to give maternity, neo-natal and children's services the chop.

At a public meeting on Friday hospital staff, campaigners and politicians were left stunned and devastated as the axe fell on the hard-fought for services.

Rochdale residents campaigned long and hard to keep services open, through meetings, rallies, official responses to the Making It Better consultation and a 43,000-signature petition.

Public pressure and strength of feeling saw Rochdale Infirmary being included in extra options up for discussion.

But, when not a single member of the decision-making committee fought the Infirmary's corner, the preferred option was passed.

Under Option A, Rochdale Infirmary will lose maternity and neo-natal services, and mums-to-be will be forced to travel out of town for a hospital birth or emergency care for premature babies.

Children's inpatient surgery will also be scrapped, although youngsters can still go to the Infirmary for day case surgery.

Plans are in place to develop community health services and to create a children's accident and emergency observation unit by 2011.

Health bosses believe 30 newborn babies could be saved because of the changes, but protesters fear lives could be lost because of increased travel times for urgent treatment.

In September, health bosses provisionally agreed to scrap urgent accident and emergency care at the Infirmary as part of the Healthy Futures consultation.

A final decision which will rubber stamp the service cuts is expected tomorrow (Thurs).

No jobs will go as part of the changes but residents are now grieving for the dedicated professionals, years of health care experience and life-saving treatment they feel Rochdale has lost.