Browse Sections

• Education

Axe-threatened unit is praised in report

Pamela Welsh
31/ 1/2008

FAIRFIELD’S under-fire maternity unit has been praised in a nationwide report, despite controversial plans to axe it.

The unit, which is run by Pennine Acute Trust, was rated as fair-performing, the second best rating possible, in a report issued by the Healthcare Commission last week.

The report comes just months after confirmation that the department will close its doors for good in 2010.

Fairfield will be the second of four hospitals to lose their maternity services - Trafford’s will be axed within two years, followed by Fairfield, then Salford in late 2010 and Rochdale in 2011.

And Jo James, of Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society, who actively campaigned against the closures, said the report confirms the departments should not be shut.

She said: "It just confirms what we already knew - the department has high expertise and quality staff who provide an excellent standard of care across the board.

"However, this report will not change anything - it’s a done deal now and there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s a shame."

Dr Ruth Jameson, medical director at Pennine Acute Trust said: "It is encouraging that the trust’s maternity services scored average or better in 18 of the 25 indicators. Our overall score was marginally short of achieving a rating of ‘better performing’ and this is the target we are setting ourselves for 2008-9. We have an aspiration of being a ‘best performer’ by 2010.

"We are delighted that the dedication and professionalism of our midwives has been rewarded with the maximum score for delivery outcomes. We are pleased as well that our hard work to support infant feeding and to provide quality care for babies after discharge has been reflected with high scores. These are real indicators of a quality service for mothers and babies.

"We are always looking for ways to improve our services and welcome reports that test the quality of our care and service provision. Where the findings of this report highlight room for improvement, we will take action to address those issues."

The Healthcare Commission decided to investigate standards of care for mothers and babies across the country because they received so many complaints about maternity care and safety. They looked at 25 different areas, including staffing levels and contact with midwives before and after birth.